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What is the role of a podiatrist?

A podiatrist is a medical practitioner dealing with conditions affecting the feet, ankles, and lower leg in people of all ages. Officially, they are known as Doctors of Podiatric Medicine, shortened to DPM. They are qualified professionals who can examine, diagnose, and treat foot injuries, infections, deformities, and conditions arising from lifestyle illnesses such as diabetes, high cholesterol, or heart disease. Depending on your situation, the diagnosis and treatment could include surgery, medications, lab tests, or referring you to a physical therapist. The range of foot conditions that a podiatrist near you can treat include:

• Foot injuries include fractures, sprains, ligament, or muscle pain
• Foot inflammation or pain due to arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or gout 
• Foot pain due to nerve problems such as Morton's neuroma, tarsal tunnel syndrome, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and pinched nerves
• Foot deformities, including bunions, hammertoe, claw toe, mallet toe, flatfoot, and high arches
• Nail concerns such as ingrown toenails and nail infections
• Skin conditions and infections, including blisters, warts, corns and calluses, athlete's foot, and smelly feet
• Heel conditions, including heel pain due to heel spurs, plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinitis, and dry or cracked heel skin 
• Foot ailments due to lifestyle conditions such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease

What are the educational qualifications of a podiatrist?

After completing their graduate school, aspiring podiatrists attend podiatry school, where they study and train for four years. They gain in-depth knowledge about human anatomy and physiology, mainly focusing on the conditions of the feet and ways to treat them. After completing these four years, they have to take up a residency program of 3 years where they work in hospitals or clinics to gain practical knowledge under the supervision of senior medical practitioners.

The American Board of Podiatric Medicine certifies podiatrists once they pass all their examinations. Some podiatrists may specialize in surgery, wound care, sports medicine, pediatrics, dermatology, radiology, geriatrics, diabetic foot care, neurologic foot conditions, autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, or orthotics.

What are the signs you need to consult a podiatrist? 

Your feet can tell a lot about your general health. Foot problems can indicate underlying health conditions. For instance, cold feet could mean poor blood flow, foot pain may be due to a stress fracture, and foot sores that do not heal are a warning sign of diabetes. 

Similarly, your feet hold the entire weight of your body while standing, walking, running, and doing other physical activities. Hence, problems with the feet can interfere with your mobility and movement. Prolonged foot infections can damage your feet, and the disease may spread further in your body, thus becoming dangerous. Untreated foot fractures can also cause permanent nerve damage. Therefore, you must not ignore any symptoms of foot conditions and promptly address them. You must consult a podiatrist near you if you have:

• Foot or ankle injury or sprain 
• Foot numbness, pain, swelling, tingling, or burning sensation
• Joint pain in feet or ankles 
• Continuous heel pain
• Thick or discolored toenails or a nail fungus 
• Cracks or cuts in your skin
• Growths like warts, corn, and calluses
• Scaling or peeling on your soles
• Painful bunions
• Ingrown toenails 
• Foot infection symptoms like redness, warmth, tenderness, fever, smelly odor
• Difficulty in walking or placing weight on the foot
• Symptoms of flat feet such as leg cramps, pain in the feet or legs, pain in the arch, ankle, heel, or outer foot

Pre-existing conditions such as diabetes can cause diabetic feet over time. If the situation gets too severe, it can even lead to amputation. People with diabetes are also prone to other foot conditions, such as ulcers. Similarly, heart disease and stroke can also cause foot damage. Therefore, people with these health conditions should regularly examine their feet and check for abnormalities. You can consult a podiatrist to learn more about proper foot care to prevent serious problems.

What to expect from your first podiatrist visit?

Visiting a podiatrist for the first time is similar to visiting any other doctor. They begin by asking questions about your condition and medical history, including whether you are taking any medications or have had surgeries.

Next, they might ask you to stand and walk. This helps them check various aspects, such as the range of motion of your joints, the fit of your shoes, any discomfort, or anything specific that might need attention.

Suppose you have bunions, ingrown toenails, heel and lower back pain, foot deformities, or foot issues related to diabetes. In that case, the podiatrist will make a precise diagnosis and treatment plan on the first visit. However, if the condition is more complex, you might need more than one visit. The treatment modalities that they usually suggest include padding, orthotics, or physical therapy.

Podiatrists are qualified to treat some conditions in the office. They use different tools, such as syringes for administering pain medication, nail anvils or nail splitters to treat ingrown toenails, and scalpels for cutting the skin or removing corns and calluses. If you have plantar warts, the doctor may use cryotherapy equipment and liquid nitrogen to freeze them off.

It is essential to be honest with your doctor and clearly explain what is bothering you. Ask them questions, and do not skip or omit details about the issue. It might be crucial to understand your conditions and even help with the treatment. Besides, you can list questions and symptoms before visiting and carry that to your appointment. It can help if you need to remember something. Also, seeing a podiatrist near you can make your appointment more convenient. It will also be helpful if you require follow-ups in the future or come across emergencies.

Tips to keep your feet healthy

The different ways you can keep your feet healthy include the following:

• Keep your blood sugar levels under control: Consistent high blood sugar levels could cause nerve damage and loss of skin sensation in the feet. Reduced blood flow to the feet may also affect their natural infection resistance and injury-healing properties. Regular physical activity and healthy food habits can help maintain blood sugar levels and prevent type 2 diabetes. Physical activity can also help control and prevent chronic diseases and conditions. 
• Check your feet regularly: You must check your feet regularly for cracked skin, minor cuts, blisters, and redness. Check the bottom of your feet. Use a hand mirror if you cannot see the bottom of the feet. If you experience problems in your feet, you must visit a qualified podiatrist for further diagnosis and treatment. If ignored, these problems could lead to significant health complications. If you have diabetes, you must regularly check your feet for visible foot problems. 
• Clean your feet daily: Use lukewarm water to clean your feet daily. Too cold or hot water could damage your skin, specifically for patients with diabetes who have decreased skin sensation. Use a soft sponge or a cloth and gentle soap. After cleaning, thoroughly rinse and completely dry your feet before wearing your socks or shoes. 
• Wear clean and comfortable socks: If your socks are uncomfortable, the sweat and moisture can stay on the skin for extended periods, causing rashes and infection. Also, too tight socks or bunched up around the calf or ankles can cause movement issues and irritation. Diabetes can further increase the chances of developing various foot problems. Therefore, podiatrists recommend wearing comfortable socks with extra cushion and moisture-wicking fiber.
• Wear comfortable shoes: Make sure your shoes are well-fitted and comfortable. Tightly fitted shoes may cause infection, blisters, and movement issues. Select shoes that properly support the ankles and feet and ensure safe walking. Podiatrists can help you select shoes that are fit for general wear and adequately support your feet and legs. 
• Cut nails regularly and carefully: Trim your toenails, but don't cut them too short. Such nails could become ingrown and lead to infection or soreness. Cut your toenails straight across and then file the edges. Avoid injuring the skin when cutting or filing the toenails.

How to find a podiatrist near you in Far Rockaway, New York?

Proper foot care, self-examining your feet for abnormalities, and regular podiatrist checkups are crucial to your healthcare. If you want to consult a podiatrist in Far Rockaway, Zocdoc can help. To get started, visit the Zocdoc website or app and fill in some essential details, such as the specialty and location of the expert. In this case, it will be a 'podiatrist' and 'Far Rockaway.'

You can also avail yourself of insurance benefits by entering your insurance carrier and planning to find experts accordingly. If you do not see your insurance plan listed on Zocdoc, try uploading an image of your card. We will scan it and display your likely plan. Please note that this feature is only available for medical insurance cards, not vision or dental ones. Besides, if you face any trouble uploading the image, contact our service team and visit Zocdoc's patient help center for any insurance-related query.

You can even use filters to refine your search, including patient ratings and reviews, to learn more about the podiatrist and their expertise. You can find the biodata of every podiatrist, including information about their education, board certification, languages, and other details. You can also read FAQs about the expert at the end of the page. Once you have found a suitable podiatrist near you, you can book your appointment online or in person immediately.

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Prevalence of foot problems in the U.S. and New York 

In New York State, around 1.6 million people have diabetes with foot ulcers. Based on the findings by podiatrists of the New York State Podiatric Medical Association (NYSPMA), people with diabetes often get hospitalized for foot ulcers and infections. The report from the organization stated that in the past decade, there has also been a significant 48% rise in diabetes-related lower-limb amputations.

However, in 2017, the New York State Podiatric Medical Association (NYSPMA) released a white paper, Podiatric Services Deliver Value and Improved Health Outcomes, that analyzed the impact of increasing the role of podiatry in New York. Doing so will lead to a 37% decrease in hospitalizations for people seeking podiatrist care for diabetes-related foot ulcers and help save approximately $510 million annually.

Sources

WebMD[1]

WebMD[2]

WebMD[3]

Healthline

Medical News Today

Verywell Health

Mayo Clinic

American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine

Newswise

New York State Podiatric Medical Association

American Physical Therapy Association

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.