Podiatry

Collaborative Team for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Foot and Ankle Problems

Loyola Medicine’s podiatric medicine and surgery team, certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery, works closely with the team of orthopaedic foot and ankle specialists to diagnose and treat problems in the foot, ankle and lower leg.

If you’re experiencing foot and ankle pain or injury, a skilled Loyola podiatrist can provide diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation.

Loyola’s podiatrists provide advanced care for a broad range of foot and ankle conditions, including:

Podiatrists at Loyola’s women athletes program also offer care specifically tailored to address the foot and ankle disorders unique to the lifestyles of active women.

Why Choose Loyola for Podiatry?

At Loyola, podiatric surgeons and orthopaedic surgeons work collaboratively on foot and ankle problems, which benefits patients by offering a multidisciplinary approach to your unique condition or injury. Your Loyola podiatrist will ensure that you receive the most advanced care for your foot or ankle condition.

Podiatry Services Provided at Loyola

Podiatrists begin with an evaluation of your medical condition, looking at the foot and entire lower leg to determine what issues may be contributing to your pain. Imaging, which may include X-ray, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or ultrasound may be used to better understand your injury or condition.

Loyola is one of the few centers in the Chicago area to use an extremity MRI, a smaller MRI scanner that generates high-resolution images of the foot and is more comfortable for many patients.

Your podiatrist is experienced in treating a wide range of routine and complicated problems and will discuss all possible treatment options with you. Your podiatrist might prescribe rest or exercises, fit you with orthotics or braces, or recommend foot or ankle surgery—including minimally invasive procedures, such as arthroscopy.

Choosing the Right Specialist for Your Foot or Ankle Condition

Podiatrists and orthopaedic foot and ankle specialists work collaboratively to treat patients with foot and ankle pain or injury. Though podiatrists and orthopaedic surgeons treat many of the same conditions, they have received slightly different training.

Podiatrists complete four years of podiatric school followed by a residency program, earning a doctor of podiatric medicine degree (DPM). Orthopaedic surgeons complete four years of medical school followed by a residency program, earning a doctor of medicine degree (MD).

A podiatrist’s entire education and residency training focuses on the care of the foot and ankle. Orthopaedic training includes the foot and ankle, as well as all musculoskeletal conditions. Some orthopaedic surgeons and podiatric surgeons go on to complete a fellowship specifically focused on the foot and ankle.

Both podiatrists and orthopaedic surgeons perform surgical procedures on the foot and ankle. In addition, podiatrists are more likely to treat skin and nail conditions and provide orthotic management for heel pain as well as other foot pain. Podiatrists also help manage ongoing foot conditions related to diabetes and other systemic illnesses.