The term 'doctor' or prefix 'dr' are often used by allied health professionals as a throw-back to it's initial latin origins; the verb 'to teach'.  Allied Health Professionals including Dentists, Podiatrists, Physiotherapists, Chiropractors, Optometrists, Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists and many more all educate patients on their problems and can call themselves 'doctors'. However their qualifications or profession must be clearly visible adjacent to this whenever written so there can be no mis-understanding by the general public.

Podiatrists in Australia undergo different training depending on which state their degree was completed. Just like dentists, podiatrists can open a clinic and start practicing their art upon completion of their university degree which typically varies between 3-5 years. After university, it's up to the podiatrist to seek out further education and experience to provide the best care possible to patients.

Ultimately it's the qualification and experience that's important, not the title. A qualified medical doctor can save your life. A qualified podiatrist can save your quality of life by fixing your painful feet, ankles, knees, hips & back.

Yes!

Podiatrists are uniquely qualified to identify faults in the movement of your body and with simple treatments including orthotics, foot mobilisation and exercises overcome your feet, knee, hip and back pain of a biomechanical cause.

It makes sense when you consider your feet are the only body part in contact with the ground.

The average single foot contains 26 bones and 2 sesamoid bones beneath the 1st toe.

This number of bones can vary. Some have fusions between their bones or may have extra bones.

The most bones in the foot we have recorded to date is an astonishing 35.

It is theoretically possible for someone to have 46 bones in a single foot, based on accessory and sesamoid bone locations documented.

We've dedicated a whole page to answering this. Find out everything related to orthotic treatment here