Did you know that one quarter of your body’s bones are in your feet?
And in addition to its 26 bones, your foot has 33 joints, 19 muscles and 107 ligaments that must work together when you walk. That’s why when you sprain an ankle or experience plantar fasciitis, the pain can be debilitating.
Because the foot is such an extremely complex area of our skeletal system, it’s important to see a specialist who has the highest levels of specialized training and advanced education.
So, foot & ankle orthopedic surgeon or podiatrist?
It’s important to know the differences, especially in their education levels (note: one has gone to medical school).
Let’s compare:
Foot & Ankle Orthopedic Surgeon
- Undergraduate Degree
- 5 Years Orthopedic Surgery Residency
- 1 Year Foot & Ankle Fellowship Training
- MD (Doctor of Medicine: They graduated from medical school.)
Podiatrist
- Undergraduate Degree
- 4 Years Podiatric School
- 3 Years Surgical Residency
- DPM (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine: Podiatrists don’t go to medical school. They have their own schools and professional associations.)
At Optim Orthopedics, our foot & ankle orthopedic surgeons are Juha Jaakkola, MD, Christopher Nicholson, MD, and Jeffrey Goldberg, MD. All three have an in-depth knowledge of the entire musculoskeletal system (your bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints). They treat the whole foot and ankle both surgically and non-surgically.
Read a letter from our foot & ankle orthopedic surgeons about their advanced education and training.
From bunions and ingrown toenails to a stress fracture or ligament reconstruction, our foot and ankle orthopedic surgeons will work with you every step of the way to get you back on your feet as soon as possible. Make an appointment today!
