What does a podiatrist do?
Foot problems have a massive impact on the quality of one's life. Chronic foot issues may also lead to restricted movement—resulting in a sedentary lifestyle affecting our overall health.
Podiatrists, also known as a doctor of podiatric medicine, are medical specialists who treat problems that affect the ankle, foot, and related structures of the leg. Podiatrists can help restore the functionality of the limbs, reduce pain, and enable speedy recovery after an injury or surgery. They also treat complications from ongoing health issues such as diabetes and arthritis.
Podiatrists can recommend physical therapy, set fractures, write prescriptions, and perform surgeries as required. These providers focus on many fields, including wound care, sports medicine, pediatric, and diabetic care.
The best podiatrist near you may also:
- Treat conditions like arch problems, corns, shortened tendons, heel spurs, bone disorders, and cysts
- Provide preventive foot care tips
- Diagnose foot problems like congenital (at-birth) deformities, skin and nail diseases, ulcers, and tumors
- Make flexible casts or apply plasters to hold foot and ankle injuries like fractures steady
- Refer patients to other specialists when the symptoms are related to disorders of other body systems
Podiatrists can also work in healthcare teams, such as physiotherapists, dietitians, and nurses, in various settings, such as private clinics, community hospitals, and their patients' homes.
Education & training of podiatrists
The education of a podiatrist does not involve attending a traditional medical school. They usually undergo a four-year-long podiatric medical school program. Following graduation, they undertake a residency that meets their state's requirements. To become board-certified, graduates must finally enroll in a two-year podiatric medicine and surgery residency (PMSR).
Podiatry specialists must graduate from one of nine accredited (authorized) podiatric schools and universities and pass the National Board Exams to become licensed. They can also specialize in orthopedics, primary care, surgery, or other areas.
What are some common foot problems?
The causes of foot trouble can include age, weight, genetics, and inappropriate footwear. Our feet act as shock absorbers for almost everything we do every day. Hence, feet have greater chances of damage.
You can visit a podiatrist if you feel pain or discomfort in or around your ankles and feet. Some common foot problems they can help you with include the following:
- Bunions and hammertoes: These are problems with the bone of your feet that cause pain and swelling, resulting in a bony, bulging bump outside your big toe. A bunion makes the toe bend towards the other, while a hammertoe has an abnormal angle in the toe's middle joint.
- Nail problems: These include conditions like mycotic nails (nails that become infected with fungus) or an ingrown toenail (nail borders curve into the soft tissue of the nail grooves instead of straight out). Ingrown nails cause pain and pressure along the nail borders.
- Sprains and fractures: These, when affecting the foot or ankle, are among the most common injuries that podiatrists treat. Podiatrists in sports medicine typically treat athletes' injuries and other foot problems and recommend ways to avoid them.
- Achilles tendon aches: This common condition causes mild to intense pain along the back of your heel. It can also cause a sudden popping feeling. Tendons get drier, weaker, and stiffer with age. Strenuous sports or repetitive motion can inflame or even rupture the Achilles tendons, causing severe pain.
- Collapsing arches: Age-related inflammation and breakdown of tendons that support or hold up the arches cause them to collapse, leading to this condition. It leads to pain or swelling along your instep and may worsen with activity.
- Plantar fasciitis: It is a condition caused by age-related stiffening and degeneration of plantar fascia (thick tissue that runs at the bottom of your feet). It further results in sharp pain at the bottom of your heel, which might worsen in the morning or after prolonged standing, running, or jumping.
- Shrinking fat pads: This is a painful condition where a shock-absorbing fat pad that supports or cushions the balls and heels of your feet breaks.
- Morton's neuroma: This condition affects the ball of your foot. It is most common in the area between your third and fourth toes. It causes burning, pain, and the feeling of something in your shoe and usually affects runners. You might need surgery to remove it.
What diagnostic procedures do podiatrists employ?
Podiatrists often start the diagnostic process by reviewing the patient's medical history and present symptoms. They then conduct a thorough physical examination of the foot. During the exam, doctors search for symptoms such as swelling and discoloration of the skin. They may request that patients walk around or move their feet and toes differently.
The podiatrist may propose additional tests based on their preliminary findings before reaching a final diagnosis. These may include:
- Imaging examinations such as X-rays, ultrasounds, bone scans, C.T. scans, and MRI scans help identify bone fractures, blocked or narrowed blood arteries, and other structural issues.
- Blood tests to diagnose infection or inflammatory or autoimmune illnesses, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
- Quantitative sensory testing employs a specialized computer system that tracks how well the nerves perceive temperature and vibration changes. Podiatrists use this exam to diagnose diabetic neuropathy, hypersensitivity, and other disorders of the foot nerves.
- Electromyography (EMG) is a test that determines how well muscles respond to nerve impulses. During the trial, the provider inserts a few thin needles, known as electrodes, into the muscle to detect electrical activity. Abnormal EMG results indicate a nerve problem and can assist your podiatrist in creating your treatment plan accordingly.
How do you maintain foot hygiene?
Your feet bear your body's entire weight every step of the way. In addition, one also crams them into shoes and stands on them for long periods. And that is why they need more care and attention than you probably give them.
You can avoid many foot issues by caring for your feet and maintaining healthy personal hygiene. Following are some tips you can follow to do so:
- Wash and dry your feet every day.
- Clean your feet in warm water, but avoid soaking them as it may dry them out.
- Check them daily for cuts, sores, swelling, dryness, and infected toenails, and apply treatment when necessary.
- Avoid wearing tight-fitting shoes. Your shoes shouldn't hurt your feet.
- Change your socks daily.
- Skip the flip-flops and flats. They do not provide enough arch support.
- Moisturize your feet regularly with lotion, cream, or petroleum jelly. Avoid putting moisturizer between your toes. You should keep the skin there dry to prevent infection.
- Trim your toenails straight with a nail clipper. Use a nail file for smooth corners.
- If you are visiting a salon for foot care, choose a salon licensed by your state's cosmetology board.
How do I find the best podiatrist near me in Olympia, Washington?
Are you looking for a podiatrist in Olympia, Washington? Look no further; Zocdoc can help you find and book an appointment with a qualified podiatrist in your area in minutes! Zocdoc is an online platform that allows you to book appointments in the most convenient way possible. To begin with, all you need to do is create a free account on the Zocdoc website. Once done, you can search for the best provider to suit your needs.
On Zocdoc, you can look for a provider by entering details such as your condition or preferred specialty, location, appointment date, and insurance plan. A comprehensive list of the best podiatrists near you will appear based on your search criteria. If you need clarification about your insurance plan, use Zocdoc's insurance detector and book an appointment with a provider that accepts your insurance. Further, each podiatrist listed on Zocdoc has a unique profile that includes their brief introduction, qualifications, certification, practice locations, visit reasons, and, most importantly, reviews, which help you know your provider better.
You can filter the list of providers based on the appointment date, visit type, gender of the provider, language, etc., to find the best podiatrist near you. Zocdoc also allows you to book video appointments before an in-person visit to understand your provider better. Look for a purple video icon on the podiatrist profile to book a video consultation.
Booking appointments has never been easier than it is with Zocdoc. All Zocdoc bookings are simple, secure, and free!
Statistics on podiatrists and podiatric conditions in Washington
According to the 2021 occupational employment and wage statistics data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are around 8,840 podiatrists in the United States. Compared to this, there are only about 130 podiatrists in Washington. However, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 2% increase in podiatrists between 2021 and 2031.
According to the data published by America's Health Rankings in 2021, in Washington, nearly 25% of people reported having some form of arthritis. Among them, almost 8% were between 18 and 44.
As per data produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 10% or 582,006 adults have diabetes in Washington. Approximately 34% or 1,938,000 adults in Washington are prediabetic, and around 164,000 people had diabetes but weren't aware of it.
Furthermore, around 53,166 people are diagnosed with diabetes every year in Washington.
Furthermore, around 53,166 people are diagnosed with diabetes every year in Washington.
Sources
WebMD[1]
WebMD[2]
WebMD[3]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Healthdirect
America's Health Rankings
American Diabetes Association
MedicalNewsToday
