What Does a Podiatrist Do? (And When Should You See One?)

✅ Medically reviewed by Dr. Thomas Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatrist · Last updated April 6, 2026

What Does a Podiatrist Do? (And When Should You See One?)

What Exactly Is a Podiatrist?

A podiatrist is a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) — a physician who completed four years of podiatric medical school followed by a 3-year surgical residency, specializing entirely in the foot, ankle, and lower leg. We’re not “foot technicians” — we diagnose, prescribe medications, perform surgery, read imaging, and manage complex medical conditions that affect the foot. Think of us as orthopedic surgeons who decided to specialize in everything from the knee down.

What Conditions Does a Podiatrist Treat?

The short answer: almost everything involving your feet and ankles. Here’s a breakdown of the most common reasons patients visit our office:

Heel & Arch Pain

Plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, and Achilles tendonitis are among our most common diagnoses. These conditions respond extremely well to podiatric treatment — custom orthotics, physical therapy protocols, shockwave therapy, and when necessary, minimally invasive surgery.

Toenail Conditions

Ingrown toenails, toenail fungus (onychomycosis), thickened nails from trauma, and nail conditions associated with psoriasis or diabetes. We treat these both conservatively and surgically in-office.

Bunions & Toe Deformities

Bunions, hammertoes, tailor’s bunions, and crossover toes are structural deformities that progressively worsen without treatment. Conservative management includes orthotics and wider footwear; surgical correction is available when conservative care fails.

Diabetic Foot Care

Diabetes can cause peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage) and poor circulation, leading to foot wounds that won’t heal. Regular podiatric care for diabetic patients is critical — it prevents amputations and hospitalizations. Medicare covers preventive diabetic foot exams.

Sports Injuries

Stress fractures, ankle sprains, Achilles tears, peroneal tendon injuries, and Morton’s neuroma are all within our scope. Many athletes don’t realize that podiatrists specialize in exactly these types of injuries.

Skin Conditions

Plantar warts, athlete’s foot, corns, calluses, and heel fissures are all commonly treated by podiatrists. We also address foot-related manifestations of systemic skin conditions.

What Happens at a Podiatry Appointment?

Your first visit typically includes: a complete medical history review, a biomechanical gait analysis (watching how you walk), hands-on physical examination, and imaging if needed (we have in-office X-ray and diagnostic ultrasound). From there, we create a treatment plan — which might include custom orthotics, injection therapy, prescription medications, physical therapy, or surgical consultation.

Appointments are not “quick look and see” visits. I spend at minimum 20-30 minutes with new patients getting to the root cause of their problem, not just treating symptoms.

When Should You See a Podiatrist?

Don’t wait until you’re limping. See a podiatrist when: foot or ankle pain has lasted more than 2 weeks, pain is interfering with your daily activities or exercise, you have diabetes and notice any foot change (color, temperature, new sore), a toenail is infected or severely ingrown, you notice a growth or lump on your foot, or you’ve sprained your ankle and are questioning whether it’s broken.

Products Our Doctors Recommend

• Podiatrist-Recommended Shoes — our curated footwear guide
• Orthotics & Insoles — OTC options between appointments
• Night Splints — for plantar fasciitis and heel pain
• Browse All Products →

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a referral to see a podiatrist?

In most cases, no. Podiatrists can be seen directly without a primary care physician referral. However, some insurance plans require a referral, so it’s worth calling your insurance first. We accept most major insurance plans including Medicare and Medicaid.

What’s the difference between a podiatrist and an orthopedist?

Orthopedic surgeons treat the entire musculoskeletal system — spine, hips, knees, shoulders, and feet. Podiatrists focus exclusively on the foot, ankle, and lower leg, giving us specialized expertise that general orthopedists may not have for complex foot and ankle conditions.

Can a podiatrist prescribe medication?

Yes. Podiatrists are licensed physicians with full prescribing authority. We can prescribe antibiotics, antifungals, anti-inflammatories, and other medications relevant to foot and ankle treatment.

Does a podiatrist do surgery?

Yes. Podiatric surgeons complete a 3-year surgical residency and are trained in a wide range of foot and ankle procedures — from simple ingrown toenail removal to complex reconstructive surgeries.

What should I bring to my first podiatry appointment?

Bring your insurance card, a list of current medications, and wear or bring any shoes you wear regularly. If you have relevant X-rays or MRI images from other providers, bring those too. Wear or bring socks so we can properly examine your feet.

About the Author: Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a board-certified podiatric surgeon and founder of Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists, with locations in Howell and Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He has treated over 5,000 patients and his YouTube channel has been viewed over 1 million times.

Related Treatment Guides

• Plantar Fasciitis & Heel Pain Treatment
• Custom 3D Orthotics
• Sports Foot & Ankle Injury Treatment
• Bunion Treatment

Your Board-Certified Podiatrists

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Podiatrist-Recommended Products

After your podiatry appointment, these are the most commonly recommended products for managing foot and ankle conditions at home:

See our full Podiatrist-Recommended Products Guide organized by condition.

Dr. Tom’s Recommended Products for foot care

Affiliate Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links to products we recommend. If you purchase through these links, Balance Foot & Ankle may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we use with our patients.

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Balance Foot & Ankle earns from qualifying purchases. We only recommend products we use with patients.

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Footnanny Heel Cream Dr. Tom’s Pick

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Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a double board-certified podiatrist and foot & ankle surgeon at Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists in Southeast Michigan. With over a decade of clinical experience, he specializes in heel pain, bunions, diabetic foot care, sports injuries, and minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Biernacki is a member of the APMA and ACFAS, and his patient education content on MichiganFootDoctors.com and YouTube has reached over one million views.