Francis Denham, age 14, of Mesa, Ariz., for his question:

WHAT IS PODIATRY?

Podiatry is the professional of health sciences that deals with the examination, diagnosis and treatment of conditions and functions of the human foot by medical and surgical methods. It is also called chiropody.

Because many diseases are often first manifested by symptoms in the feet, the podiatrist is frequently called upon to point out a patient's possible affliction with outer disorders, among them diabetes, arthritis and circulatory problems.

The podiatrist is also trained to recognize and correct congenital malformations of the foot in infants.

With the increase in the number of people taking part in exercise today, many podiatrists now practice sports medicine. A podiatrist must complete a minimum of three years of undergraduate study and four years of podiatry college before receiving the degree of doctor of podiatric medicine and become eligible to take the state board examination, which is necessary before entering practice. Many graduates obtain advanced training during a residency at a general hospital.