Although there is some crossover that exists between an orthopedist and a podiatrist, they are still very different professions. Someone that needs to see a podiatrist most likely wouldn’t go to see an orthopedist and vice versa. Therefore, to choose the right specialist for your needs, it’s imperative that you understand which each type of medicine deals with. If you’re in need of a podiatrist in Nassau County, Cherrywood Foot Care has the experience and education needed to help with your lower leg and foot-related needs.
To become an orthopedist, a person needs to acquire a bachelor’s degree and their M.D. (Doctor of Medicine degree). An M.D. is obtained from a medical school and provides the orthopedist to be with the knowledge needed to treat any conditions having to do with the musculoskeletal system. The musculoskeletal system refers to the bones, joints, muscles, etc. An orthopedist furthers their education with internships and more hands-on experiences such as residencies.
A person that wants to become a podiatrist also needs a bachelor’s degree, but instead of an MD, they need their DPM (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree). While a podiatrist primarily deals with foot-related conditions, they must also be aware of the musculoskeletal system as well. This knowledge is crucial because it’s needed to understand the proper recovery methods through analysis, assessments, and preparation.
After patients spend the time to fill out forms and go to their appointments, the last thing a patient wants to find out is that they did all of that just to find out the medical specialist can’t help them. To avoid this scenario, it helps to know ahead of time what conditions an orthopedist and a podiatrist can help with.
An orthopedist can treat the following musculoskeletal conditions:
Whereas a podiatrist can treat the following conditions:
If you have any questions or would like to book an appointment regarding the foot-related conditions above, call our podiatrist in Nassau County at Cherrywood Foot Care!
Overall, considering an orthopedist and a podiatrist receive different types of education, it makes sense that they would have different specialties that they can treat as well. Hopefully, after explaining the difference between the two professions, you’re now able to choose the right medical specialist for your needs.
Not only does Cherrywood Footcare use cutting-edge technology and techniques for podiatry, but we’ve also been voted the Best Podiatrist on Long Island. At Cherrywood Footcare, we’ll do our best to help you with your podiatry needs. Call now to book an appointment with us!