Podiatry: Misunderstood, but Often a Lifesaver: MD Podiatrist

What’s misunderstood could also be a potential lifesaver. That’s especially true when it comes to foot health. Podiatry remains one of the most misread branches of medicine in today’s society. Because of this, Dan Michaels, DPM, said it’s important to keep tabs on just how healthy your feet are. “I tell everyone, your feet are the foundation of your mansion. If your feet are not happy, it can literally throw off your entire body,” he said.

As a podiatrist, Dr. Michaels said he handles issues such as bunions, fractures, heel pain, tendonitis, hammertoes, amputations, wound care, and sports injuries. “A lot of people are shocked to find out the scope of everything that we deal with,” Dr. Michaels said. As April is National Foot Health Awareness month, Michaels said his practices are making sure to take a key approach to making sure patients are educated and aware of the importance of seeing a podiatrist. Podiatry, he said, is often a lifesaver. “We’re oftentimes the first ones to diagnose certain things such as circulation issues or diabetes,” Michaels said. “So, a lot of times we’re catching stuff before other disciplines are doing it.”