It might seem that there is almost no or very little difference between podiatrists and chiropodists when the truth is their history is slightly different.
Today, both podiatrists and chiropodists are commonly known as foot doctors who prevent and treat various lower leg and foot disorders.
A “chiropodist” is a term that is no longer used in several parts of the world because it has been replaced by the term “podiatrist”.
Key Takeaways
- Podiatrists are medical professionals who specialize in treating foot, ankle, and lower limb conditions. At the same time, chiropodists are healthcare professionals who diagnose and treat conditions related to the feet and lower limbs.
- Podiatrists must have a degree in podiatric medicine and a license to practice, while chiropodists can have a diploma or a degree in podiatry, chiropody or foot health.
- Podiatrists can perform surgery, prescribe medications, and administer physical therapy, while chiropodists cannot perform surgery and have limited prescribing abilities.
Podiatrist vs Chiropodist
A podiatrist is a healthcare professional who has completed a degree in podiatric medicine and is licensed to diagnose and treat conditions related to the feet, ankles, and lower legs. A chiropodist is a medical professional who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of foot and ankle conditions.
Podiatrists are famous as medical specialists who treat any kind of complications of the lower legs or feet. Podiatrists are essentially doctors who hold the degree of doctor of podiatric medicine, but they don’t go to traditional medical schools.
Podiatrists have the license to prescribe drugs, perform surgery, and reset broken bones.
In the earlier days, Chiropody referred to the same responsibilities as that of a current-day podiatrist. But, apart from treating any foot disorder, a chiropodist is also known for preventing foot diseases by various means.
“chiropodist” is no longer an internationally recognized name for foot doctors.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Podiatrist | Chiropodist |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A podiatrist is a doctor of podiatric medicine qualified to diagnose and treat various foot and lower leg-related conditions. | A chiropodist is defined as the practice of chiropody which, apart from treating various foot disorders, also helps in prevention. |
| Naming | A podiatrist is a term coined by modern-day scientists for foot specialists. | The term chiropodists were used in the early days to refer to foot doctors. |
| Geographical significance | A podiatrist is an internationally recognized term for the study of podiatric medicine. | Today, the term chiropodist is used in some places in the UK. |
| Meaning | The word podiatrist means a person who treats any foot disorder. | The word chiropodist means a person who treats diseases of both hands and feet. |
| Training | Podiatrists are medically trained professionals who can diagnose and treat any feet and ankle-related disorder. | Chiropodists have regulated practitioners who are exclusively trained under government programs and qualified for their examinations. |
What is Podiatrist?
A podiatrist is a foot specialist who studies podiatric science and gains training and knowledge to diagnose and treat any foot or ankle-related disorder.
People who study podiatric science can treat leg injuries as well as complications that emerge due to other ongoing health diseases. The term podiatrist became common in the 20th century for foot doctors.
Though podiatrists are foot doctors, they don’t go to conventional medical school. There are separate schools for studying podiatric science, and they get a DPM (doctor of podiatric medicine) after their name.
People who want to study podiatry get a bachelor’s degree in biology or another related field of science. After completing an undergraduate course, they go to podiatry school for four years.
After four years in podiatry school, there are 3 years of practice in a hospital which is called residency. After becoming a podiatrist, he or she receives a license from the state government.
A podiatrist can perform surgeries, recommend any lab test, and prescribe drugs.
What is Chiropodist?
A chiropodist is a term that was heavily used in the 19th century for people who cured diseases and disorders of hands and feet.
The science of podiatry originally emerged as chiropody, and it was different from traditional medical science and practices. But today, the term has almost perished, as only in fewer parts of the UK can one find a chiropodist.
If we look back at our history, professional foot care started long ago and was considered a very respectable profession.
In 1895, the first professional society of chiropody was established in New York, and the first school for chiropody opened in the early 1900s. British started their chiropody society in London, and US chiropodists received a license for practising.
But from the 1960s, in most parts of the world, podiatry became an acceptable term, and the degree of chiropody was not given anymore.
Back in the day, a chiropodist was expected to diagnose, treat, and prevent any foot and hand disorders. Some of those include fractures and sprains, nail disorders, hammertoes, arthritis, heel pain, etc.
Main Differences Between Podiatrists and Chiropodists
- A podiatrist is a famous and commonly used term for doctors of podiatric medicine who are qualified to diagnose and treat any feet and lower leg conditions. On the other hand, chiropodists practice chiropody and help prevent and treat feet disorder by various means.
- A podiatrist is a modern term for foot specialists, whereas a chiropodist is a traditional term for foot doctors.
- The term podiatrist is famous internationally for people who study podiatric medicine, whereas the term chiropodist is an old term for a podiatrist and is only known in some parts of the UK.
- The term podiatrist means a person who treats feet disorders and their ailments, whereas the term chiropodist means a person who treats disorders and diseases of both hands and feet.
- Podiatrists are medically trained professionals who are educated for treating any ankle and foot-related disorders, whereas chiropodists are trained in government-established organizations and also need to qualify for their examinations.
- https://oem.bmj.com/content/63/10/713.short
- https://jfootankleres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1757-1146-3-S1-P3
Last Updated : 13 July, 2023
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Emma Smith holds an MA degree in English from Irvine Valley College. She has been a Journalist since 2002, writing articles on the English language, Sports, and Law. Read more about me on her bio page.
Interesting to note the differences in geographic terminology for foot specialists. I wonder if there are similar distinctions in other medical fields.
It’s great to learn about the comprehensive nature of podiatrists’ training, knowing they can perform surgeries and prescribe medications.
Really interesting to learn about the history and distinction between podiatrists and chiropodists. I didn’t know that the terms varied based on geography.
The education and training differences between podiatrists and chiropodists are quite vast and surprising. Makes sense as to why the names are different.
It’s intriguing to consider the historical context and development of the terms ‘podiatrist’ and ‘chiropodist.’
The comparison table provides a clear understanding of the differences between podiatrists and chiropodists. Well-presented information.
The evolution of foot care from chiropody to podiatry is quite an enlightening piece of history. Nice to know the background of these practices.
The transition from chiropody to podiatry is a significant part of the history of foot healthcare. It’s fascinating how things change over time.