Who is a podiatrist?
A podiatrist specializes in treating conditions that affect the lower limbs, particularly the feet and legs. They can also treat the lower extremities, which will assist the patient in recovering from an injury or surgery with as little discomfort and as quickly as possible. These physicians can prescribe medication, send patients to physical therapists, and even undertake surgical operations. Other members of the medical team may even consult them to treat a variety of diseases.
Education and training of podiatrists
Aspiring podiatrists learn biology, chemistry, and physics in college, along with additional science studies, to prepare for podiatry school. Most earn a bachelor's degree in biology or a related science discipline. Then, they attend podiatry school for four years. They study how your bones, nerves, and muscles work to help you move. They also learn the conditions and injuries that can impact your feet. This includes how to diagnose such conditions, treat them, and fix the feet surgically if necessary.
After graduating from podiatry school, students work as residents in a hospital for three years. They work with doctors from other specialties, such as surgeons, anesthesiologists, pediatricians, and infectious disease specialists. Some podiatrists may additionally pursue more specialized fellowship training in a particular field.
Podiatrists can obtain board certification by completing further coursework, clinical experience, and passing an exam. The certifying boards for the field are the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and the American Board of Podiatric Medicine.
Podiatry subspecialties
Some podiatrists, like primary care physicians, address various general foot ailments. Others focus on specific areas of podiatric medicine, such as sports medicine or wound healing. The following are various podiatry subspecialties:
- Dermatological podiatry (skin disorders)
- Podiatric oncology (skin cancers)
- Forensic podiatry (the study of footprints and shoe prints for crime scene investigations)
- Podiatric radiology (Foot and ankle radiology)
- Podopediatrics (pediatric podiatry)
- Gerontological podiatrist (geriatric foot conditions)
- Podiatric orthopedics (the treatment of foot abnormalities with orthotics, prosthetics, and footwear)
- Podiatric diabetology (diabetes foot care)
- Podiatric sports medicine
- Podiatric vascular specialist (circulation disorders)
- Neuro Podiatry (nerve disorders)
- Reconstructive foot and ankle surgery (also called consultant podiatric surgery)
Orthopedists vs. podiatrists
Despite having similar medical conditions to address, podiatrists and orthopedists are not the same kind of physicians. Podiatrists only treat conditions of the foot, ankle, and lower leg. An orthopedic surgeon, often known as an orthopedist, specializes in musculoskeletal conditions that impact the entire body.
Both acute and chronic musculoskeletal disorders are treated by orthopedics, including:
- Injury to tendons, ligaments, and arthritis
- Fractures due to bursitis
- Injury to the hands and wrists
- Back and neck discomfort
- Persistent musculoskeletal pain
- Sports-related injuries
Numerous orthopedic surgeons are experts in particular body parts, such as the hip, spine, or hand. Others concentrate on specific therapeutic modalities, such as sports medicine, orthopedic trauma surgery, and total joint repair.
Podiatrists often provide first care for patients, even though certain orthopedic surgeons specialize in treating foot and ankle conditions.
What does a podiatrist do?
As discussed before, a podiatrist can diagnose diseases of the feet and ankles, prescribe appropriate medications to treat these conditions, suggest appropriate treatments when required, and even perform surgery when needed. A more detailed version of the tasks performed by podiatrists is listed below:
- Consult with patients individually about therapy for illnesses and preventing foot care issues.
- Diagnose foot problems, such as tumors, ulcers, fractures, skin or nail disorders, and congenital or acquired deformities, such as weak feet or foot imbalance.
- Use cutting-edge methods and procedures to treat corns, calluses, bunions, heel spurs, ingrown toenails, arch problems, shortened tendons, cysts, bone abnormalities, and abscesses.
- Create plaster casts, strappings, and corrective orthotics to fix physical imperfections.
- Create a flexible cast to hold a broken or sprained foot or ankle in place.
- Improve one's gait and stability to walk more confidently and efficiently.
It is essential to consult with other medical professionals to diagnose individuals with diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, or renal illness based on symptoms detected in the foot.
How exactly does a podiatrist determine a patient's condition?
In most cases, the first stage entails analyzing the individual's symptoms and medical history. After that, the podiatrist will physically examine the foot or the afflicted area. During this process, they look for evidence of swelling or discoloration on the skin. You may need to walk or move your toes and feet in various directions.
Before reaching their conclusive diagnosis, they request additional testing from the patient, depending on what they discover throughout their investigation. The following are some examples of those examinations:
This examination aims to determine the presence of infections, inflammations, or autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
It is a test that a podiatrist will run to look for any structural issues, bone fractures, or narrowed or obstructed blood arteries.
This test determines how a muscle responds to a nerve impulse.
- Quantitative Sensory Testing
This process requires an advanced computer system to record how nerves respond to changes in temperature and vibration. This testing often helps diagnose sensory disorders.
Which conditions put one at risk for foot issues?
Certain medical illnesses can make people more susceptible to foot problems. These consist of:
- Diabetes and arthritis
- Obesity
- Heart problems and strokes
- Elevated cholesterol and inadequate blood flow
Diabetes increases a person's risk of foot issues. Keep a watchful eye on any changes in your feet's sensation. Record any symptoms and indicators that pertain to your feet in a journal. Treating an underlying issue may alleviate foot discomfort.
In case you have any of the following signs of diabetic foot issues, notify your podiatrist:
- Dry or cracked toenails
- Calluses or hard skin
- Foul-smelling feet
- Discolored toenails
- Tenderness
- Intense or scorching pain
- Painful ulcer
- Numbness or tingling
- Discomfort in your calves (lower legs) when walking
When should you visit a podiatrist near you?
You should visit a podiatrist when you are experiencing these conditions or symptoms:
Suppose you have foot or ankle joint discomfort that doesn't go away after trying over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin or ibuprofen. In that case, you should contact a podiatrist to find out what's wrong and devise a treatment strategy for the future.
- Swelling and pain in the feet
Sore or swollen feet are standard after strenuous leg exercises, but if you're experiencing sudden pain, swelling, or numbness regularly for any reason, seek medical attention. Then, it could be a severe problem that needs a visit to your nearby podiatrist.
If you have diabetes, like Type 1 or Type 2, you have a significantly increased risk of foot problems such as poor circulation, infection, nerve damage, and ulcers. Getting your feet examined by a podiatrist once a year can help prevent these complications.
While an orthopedist might be the first professional to come to mind, a podiatrist is more equipped to deal with foot and ankle issues and post-recovery.
It is a prevalent fungal infection that can heal with lotions, antifungal powder, and sprays. However, if your athlete's foot continues to return, a podiatrist might prescribe a more potent cream or oral treatment and examine your foot for infection.
As the popularity of nail salons has risen, so has the incidence of nail fungus. If you do not treat the infection, your toenails will thicken and turn yellow, and the illness could spread to other toenails, leading to severe disease.
It's safer (and less painful) to have an ingrown toenail removed at the doctor's office than to try to do it yourself or at a nail salon. If the nail has become infected, a podiatrist may numb the area before removing it to keep the pain from worsening.
Bunions often inflict pain in forms on the exterior of the big toe joint. Based on the intensity of the hallux valgus, the podiatrist will make treatment recommendations based on the x-ray results.
- Persistent discomfort in the back of the heel
A podiatrist examines your feet, takes X-rays, determines the condition's root cause, and then develops a treatment plan based on that information.
Podiatrists can administer topical medications or surgically remove corns, calluses, or rough patches of skin to relieve pain.
Podiatrist appointment tip
When a foot or ankle problem is significant, unsightly, or fails to resolve under the care of a primary care doctor, most individuals refer to a podiatrist. Take the time to prepare for your visit to get the most out of it.
- List your symptoms, medications, medical problems, and past surgeries or treatments.
- List the questions you want to ask to comprehend your condition better.
- Bring any pertinent lab reports, medical documents, or X-rays with you.
- If your problem requires walking, bring your regular walking shoes.
Keep your feet clean during your visit. Avoid using nail paint, foot powders, ointments, or gels until after your appointment. Take notes as well because most tips will be about proper foot care and preventive therapies.
Finding podiatrists near you in Jamaica, New York
Injuries, infections, and other conditions related to the feet are common. While some individuals resolve specific difficulties independently, others may take longer to recover. Foot problems can stop you in your tracks. Hence, consulting with a podiatrist can help you get the correct diagnosis and speed up your recovery.
However, locating a reputable podiatrist that meets your needs might take time and effort. Additionally, it can be challenging to arrange an appointment with them. If you're concerned about making an appointment with a podiatrist but need help finding where to look, Zocdoc is here to help. Zocdoc is an innovative online platform dedicated to helping you find the right providers in Jamaica.
Type in your location, specialty, preferred appointment date, and insurance carrier's name, and run the search. Our unique algorithm will filter through an extensive database and prepare a list of foot doctors near you that match your search query.
On Zocdoc, each provider has a dedicated profile that contains details about their training, specializations, languages spoken, years of experience, and licensure. You may also find authentic reviews and user ratings to help you choose from the many podiatrists near you.
Using Zocdoc to schedule doctor's visits is hassle-free, safe, and cost-free.
Prevalence of chronic conditions in New York
As per the research by the state government of New York in January 2022, there were about 2,116 podiatrists practicing in this state. Arthritis is among the primary causes of pain and swelling in and around the feet. Nearly 3 million people in New York City have arthritis, according to the city's health report. A person's daily life can be disrupted by arthritis, preventing them from engaging in their favorite pastimes. Hence, a visit to a nearby podiatrist becomes necessary to help ease the pain of foot ailments.
According to a report by the American Diabetes Association, nearly 1,717,067 adults in New York were diagnosed with diabetes in 2017. As per the same report, an estimated 456,000 people in New York with diabetes were unaware of their condition. Everyone with diabetes needs to visit a podiatrist. Based on the first examination results, your podiatrist can tell you immediately if you are at low or high risk for foot issues. On average, a diabetic patient feels normal (no numbness, burning, or tingling) and has average circulation.
Sources
Charles Sturt University
Valley County Health System
Royal College of Podiatry
Southshore Health
New York State Department of Health[1]
New York State Department of Health[2]
American Diabetes Association
Healthline
Medical News Today
