What is Podiatry? Podiatry (from the Latin pedis, meaning “foot”) is the branch of medicine that treats diseases of the feet, ankle, knee, and lower legs, as well as the lower back and the whole of the foot. No wonder some athletes visit a sports podiatrist to fix their foot. Ankle and foot problems such as bunions, arthritis and Achilles tendon problems are the most common diagnoses in podiatry. In this field of medicine, doctors often address many other medical problems, including arthritis of the hands, lower back and knee problems. Podiatrists focus on the treatment of disorders of the foot and ankle. It is often a two- to three-year professional school, with additional residency training in orthopedic medicine. The most common orthopedic problems treated by podiatrists are arthritis and fractures of the foot. A specialty of podiatry is diabetic foot care, which focuses on preventing ulcers and gangrene. Podiatrists also often treat problems of the lower leg and ankle. These in