Podiatry

Expert podiatric care for feet and ankles in San Diego

The bottom of a runner's cross-trainer as it's coming off the pavement.

Expert podiatric care for feet and ankles in San Diego

Scripps podiatrists diagnose and treat lower leg, ankle and foot problems that can result in chronic or acute pain and restrict mobility.


Known as a doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM), a podiatrist may specialize in different areas such as surgery, sports medicine or wound care. Podiatrists can also make referrals for physical rehabilitation, as well as fit and prescribe custom orthotics or shoes to address foot and ankle issues.

Keeping your feet, ankles and lower legs healthy

Scripps offers patients expert podiatric care throughout San Diego County. Our expert physicians and providers offer a wide selection of podiatric medical options and work in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams of orthopedists, endocrinologists and other clinicians at Scripps to ensure that patients receive the most appropriate treatment. Scripps Clinic foot doctors are also highly skilled in the latest treatments for foot, ankle and lower leg wounds that require specialized care and medical management.


Scripps podiatrists strive to help all patients stay in the game, whether they are elite athletes, weekend warriors or everyday people simply looking to eliminate painful foot and ankle conditions that can occur as we age.

Advanced podiatric care

Advanced podiatric care

Scripps podiatrists offer care for all types of conditions that affect the foot and ankle.

Foot, ankle and lower leg conditions treated at Scripps

Podiatric foot and ankle injuries and conditions treated at Scripps include:


  • Achilles tendonitis — inflammation of the Achilles tendon at the back of the ankle above the heel of the foot.
  • Arthritis of the foot and ankle — inflammation of one or more of the multiple joints in the foot and ankle.
  • Athlete’s foot — a skin infection of the feet caused by fungus.
  • Bunions — the enlargement of the big toe joint and deviation of the great toe.
  • Corns and callouses — a painful thickening of the skin related to the use of ill-fitting shoes.
  • Flat feet — a foot condition characterized by the foot’s arch being flat due to loose tendons in the foot’s joints.
  • Foot fractures — when bones in the feet are broken, including traumatic bone injuries that may require immobilization or reparative surgery, as well as less serious stress fractures.
  • Fungal toenails — a condition in which there is discoloration and often thickening of the toenails due to fungal infection.
  • Hallux rigidus — a condition where painful arthritis of the big toe’s main joint and can result in joint pain when walking or standing.
  • Hammertoes— a contracture of the lesser toes becoming rigid and painful in shoes.
  • Ingrown toenails — occur when the edge of a nail grows downward into the skin of the toe.
  • Metatarsalgia — a condition characterized by pain in the ball of the foot.
  • Morton neuroma — an injury to the nerves between the toes, causing chronic pain.
  • Peripheral neuropathy — a form of numbness in the lower extremities that can result in wounds and foot ulcers associated with diabetes and other conditions.
  • Plantar fasciitis — an inflammation in the bottom of the foot usually originating at the base of the heel.
  • Plantar warts — appear on the bottom of the feet and are most commonly seen in children.
  • Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction — a condition that can result in a flat foot due to insufficient support and stability for the foot’s arch.
  • Sesamoiditis — an injury to the small bones under the big toe joint that creates pain on the ball of the foot (often seen in dancers).
  • Sprains, strains and bruises — can affect the ligaments, tendons and muscles of the foot and ankle.
  • Turf toe — a common sprain of the big toe’s main joint in athletes who play a variety of sports on different surfaces, including natural and artificial turf.
  • Wounds and ulcerations — appear on the feet as a result of complications of neuropathy (nerve damage) often associated with diabetes.

Treating the foot and ankle

Scripps offers an array of treatment options treatment options including surgery and physical rehabilitation, to treat foot and ankle conditions. Our expert physicians assist you in finding the most effective treatment options for your condition.


Our comprehensive diagnostic services and imaging exams, such as X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound and fluoroscopy, help us pinpoint your medical need, and our expert physicians will work together with you to find the best course of treatment for your condition. 

Podiatric treatments at Scripps

Podiatric foot, ankle and lower leg treatments at Scripps include:


  • Nonsurgical treatments, which can include physical rehabilitation, anti-inflammatory therapies and use of custom-made insoles, orthotics or shoes.
  • Foot and ankle conditioning programs, which are designed to strengthen muscles, stabilize joints and prevent future injury.
  • Outpatient and inpatient foot surgery and procedures, which can include reparative or reconstructive surgeries to correct many foot deformities.
  • Hammertoe repair, a procedure in which the toe is straightened and stabilized by permanently fusing the two bones together.
  • Bunion surgery, which is a corrective surgery that involves cutting the bones and repositioning them with metal screws to straighten the big toe and reduce the bump on the side of the foot. 

Sports and physical therapy

Scripps offers several sports and physical therapy options in San Diego with facilities in North County, South Bay, Central San Diego and La Jolla. Sports and physical therapy services are provided at more than half a dozen locations by a team of experts using the latest techniques and technologies to help patients regain strength and mobility to get back in the game.