What Is a Podiatrist? A Complete Guide to Foot & Ankle Specialists (2026)

Quick answer: What Is A Podiatrist affects roughly 1 in 4 adults in our practice that affects many patients. Effective treatment starts with a targeted diagnosis, conservative-first treatment, and escalation only when needed. We treat this regularly at our Howell and Bloomfield Township practices. Call (810) 206-1402.

Related Conditions

By Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM | Double Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon | Updated March 2026 · Medically Reviewed ✓

Quick Answer: A podiatrist (DPM — Doctor of Podiatric Medicine) is a physician who specializes exclusively in foot, ankle, and lower leg conditions. Podiatrists complete 4 years of podiatric medical school, a 3-year surgical residency, and can become board-certified in surgery. They diagnose and treat everything from ingrown toenails and heel pain to complex ankle reconstructions and diabetic foot care.

What Is a Podiatrist? A Complete Guide to Foot & Ankle Specialists (2026)

If you’ve ever Googled “foot doctor near me” or wondered whether your foot problem warrants a specialist visit, this guide answers every question — from what a podiatrist actually treats to how to find the right one for your condition.

What Does a Podiatrist Do?

A podiatrist provides comprehensive medical and surgical care for conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and lower extremity. Unlike an orthopedic surgeon who treats the entire musculoskeletal system, a podiatrist’s training and practice are 100% focused on the foot and ankle — meaning they often have deeper expertise in this specific area for both routine and complex conditions.

What Dr. Tom tells his patients: “People often wait months before seeing a podiatrist because they think their problem isn’t ‘bad enough.’ The reality is that most foot problems are far easier to resolve early — a 6-week plantar fasciitis case is a completely different treatment challenge than a 9-month chronic case. If your foot or ankle has been bothering you for more than 2 weeks, a podiatrist visit is always worth it.”

Conditions a Podiatrist Treats

Common Conditions

• Heel pain and plantar fasciitis — the #1 foot complaint podiatrists treat
• Bunions (hallux valgus) — conservative and surgical management
• Ingrown toenails — in-office procedure, often same-day relief
• Toenail fungus (onychomycosis) — laser, oral, and topical options
• Hammertoes and toe deformities
• Flat feet and high arches — orthotics and gait correction
• Corns and calluses
• Warts (plantar warts)

Neurological and Vascular Conditions

• Peripheral neuropathy — nerve damage from diabetes, B12 deficiency, chemotherapy
• Morton’s neuroma — nerve compression between the 3rd and 4th toes
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome
• PAD and circulation disorders — vascular screening

Diabetic Foot Care

Diabetic foot care is one of the most critical subspecialties in podiatry. Diabetes affects foot circulation and nerve function, turning minor wounds into limb-threatening infections. Regular podiatric monitoring — typically every 3–6 months — is recommended for all diabetic patients. Annual foot exams are a Medicare-covered benefit for diabetic patients.

Sports Medicine and Injuries

• Ankle sprains and chronic instability
• Stress fractures of the foot and ankle
• Achilles tendinopathy
• Turf toe, sesamoiditis, and forefoot injuries
• Running-related overuse injuries

Surgery

Board-certified podiatric surgeons perform a many foot and ankle procedures, including bunion correction (osteotomy), hammertoe repair, ankle fusion, and tendon repair. Modern minimally invasive techniques like MICA (Minimally Invasive Chevron Akin) allow many procedures to be done with smaller incisions and faster recovery than traditional open surgery.

DPM vs. MD vs. DO: What’s the Difference?

A DPM (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine) completes 4 years of podiatric medical school — with the same core science curriculum as MD/DO programs — followed by a 3-year surgical residency focused exclusively on the foot and ankle. An MD or DO orthopedic surgeon receives broader training across the entire musculoskeletal system, while a podiatrist’s entire training is concentrated below the knee. For foot and ankle conditions, a DPM and an orthopedic foot/ankle specialist have comparable surgical training and outcomes.

What to Expect at Your First Podiatrist Visit

At Balance Foot & Ankle, a new patient visit typically takes 30–45 minutes and includes a thorough history, visual examination, gait analysis, and — if needed — in-office X-rays. Most patients leave their first appointment with a diagnosis and a specific treatment plan. No referral is required for most PPO insurance plans.

• Bring your insurance card and a list of current medications
• Wear or bring the shoes you wear most frequently — footwear is a key diagnostic tool
• Describe your pain pattern: when it started, what makes it worse, what helps
• X-rays are usually taken the same day if needed

When Should You See a Podiatrist?

See a podiatrist if you experience any of the following:

• Foot or ankle pain that hasn’t improved in 2 weeks with rest
• Pain that affects how you walk or limits daily activity
• Numbness, tingling, or burning in your feet (especially if you have diabetes)
• A foot wound that isn’t healing (especially with diabetes or poor circulation)
• Visible deformity — a bump, a toe that’s drifting, a nail that looks infected
• Recurrent ingrown toenails
• Warts that have returned or spread

The general rule: if it’s been bothering you for more than 2 weeks and isn’t getting better, a podiatry visit will save you time and money compared to waiting and hoping.

Podiatrist in Michigan: Balance Foot & Ankle

Dr. Tom Biernacki, Dr. Carl Jay, and Dr. Daria Gutkin at Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists provide comprehensive podiatric care at two Michigan locations — Howell and Bloomfield Hills. Our practice specializes in conservative and surgical management of all foot and ankle conditions, with particular expertise in diabetic foot care, custom 3D orthotics, and minimally invasive surgery.

📍 Howell: 4330 E Grand River Ave, Howell MI 48843 · (810) 206-1402
📍 Bloomfield Hills: 43494 Woodward Ave #208, Bloomfield Hills MI 48302 · (810) 206-1402

✅ Same-day appointments available
✅ Most insurance accepted — including Medicare and Blue Cross
✅ No referral needed for most PPO plans
✅ 4.9★ on Google

Book My Appointment →

Related Guides

Plantar Fasciitis Treatment → | Bunion Treatment → | Neuropathy Treatment → | Diabetic Foot Care → | Custom 3D Orthotics →

Dr. Tom’s Top 3 — The Premium Foot Pain Stack (2026)

If you only buy three things for foot pain, get these. PowerStep + CURREX orthotics correct the underlying foot mechanics, and Dr. Hoy’s pain gel delivers fast topical relief. This is the exact stack Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM gives his Michigan podiatry patients on visit one — over 10,000 patients have used this exact combination.

Visit Balance Foot & Ankle — Same-Day Appointments Available

Our podiatry team serves patients throughout Michigan including Howell, Brighton, and Bloomfield Hills. If you’re dealing with heel pain, ingrown toenails, or a foot injury, we have same-day appointment availability.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I see a podiatrist?

See a podiatrist if: foot or ankle pain has lasted more than 2–4 weeks without improvement, you’re changing your gait to avoid pain, you have an open wound or sore that isn’t healing, you notice nail discoloration or thickening, you have diabetes and any foot concern, or pain is severe enough to wake you at night. Most foot conditions are easier and cheaper to treat early — what starts as a minor issue can become a surgical problem with months of delay.

What is the difference between a podiatrist and an orthopedic surgeon?

Podiatrists (DPM — Doctor of Podiatric Medicine) specialize exclusively in the foot, ankle, and lower leg. Orthopedic surgeons (MD/DO) have broader musculoskeletal training but variable foot/ankle subspecialization. For foot and ankle-specific problems, a podiatrist often has more focused training and experience. For injuries involving the leg above the ankle, complex pediatric cases, or multi-level reconstruction, orthopedic consultation may be appropriate. We frequently co-manage patients with orthopedic colleagues.

How do I know if my foot pain is serious?

Signs that warrant same-day or next-day evaluation: severe pain that appeared suddenly without clear cause, swelling, redness, and warmth that appeared suddenly (possible gout, infection, or Charcot fracture), an open wound that looks infected (redness spreading, pus, warmth), inability to bear weight, or any foot problem in a diabetic patient. Pain that’s been present for weeks and is stable is important but not an emergency — schedule within 1–2 weeks.

Can foot problems cause back and knee pain?

Yes — this is a kinetic chain effect. Abnormal foot mechanics (overpronation, supination, leg length discrepancy) cause compensatory changes in knee, hip, and lumbar alignment. Roughly 30% of patients presenting to our clinic with knee pain have a treatable foot-level biomechanical cause. Correcting foot mechanics with orthotics or appropriate footwear often provides significant knee and back relief. If you have chronic knee or back pain and haven’t had your foot mechanics evaluated, it’s worth a consult.

Are orthotics worth it?

For the right conditions, yes — custom orthotics are among the most cost-effective interventions in podiatry. They’re most effective for: plantar fasciitis, flat feet with secondary knee/back pain, leg length discrepancy, metatarsalgia, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, and diabetic foot pressure management. Quality OTC orthotics ($35–60) resolve symptoms for 60% of patients with mild-to-moderate conditions. Custom orthotics are appropriate when OTC options have failed or when the biomechanical problem is complex. We cast custom orthotics in-office.

How do I choose the right running shoes?

Start with your foot type (flat, neutral, high arch) and running pattern (overpronator, neutral, supinator). Flat feet and overpronators do best in stability or motion-control shoes. Neutral feet do well in neutral-cushioned shoes. High arches need maximum cushioning with flexible soles. Always buy running shoes at the end of the day (foot swelling peaks then), get properly fitted by a specialist, and replace every 300–500 miles. If you’ve been injured repeatedly, a gait analysis can identify the mechanical flaw driving your injury pattern.

What is the difference between a sprain and a fracture?

A sprain is a ligament injury (the tissue connecting bones); a fracture is a break in the bone itself. Both can occur with the same trauma (ankle roll, fall). The old test — ‘if you can walk, it’s not broken’ — is wrong; many fractures are initially weight-bearable. Key differences: a fracture typically produces localized bone tenderness along the bone itself, while a sprain is tender over the ligament. X-ray is the standard to differentiate. High-grade sprains without proper treatment can be as disabling as fractures.

How do I prevent foot and ankle injuries?

The four most impactful prevention strategies: (1) Supportive, appropriately fitted footwear for your foot type and activity. (2) Gradual activity progression — the 10% rule (never increase weekly mileage or intensity by more than 10%). (3) Regular calf and ankle mobility work. (4) Strengthening the posterior tibial tendon, peroneals, and intrinsic foot muscles. Most overuse injuries are preventable; most acute injuries are not — but ankle sprain recurrence (60–70% without rehab) is prevented by balance and proprioception training.