Who are podiatrists?
Podiatric medicine or podiatry focuses on studying, diagnosing, and medically and surgically treating foot, ankle, and lower extremities disorders. Doctors of podiatry, called podiatrists, play a vital role in healthcare. They train to perform lower limb surgery and treat injuries and ailments of the feet.
Educational requirements to be a podiatrist
Podiatrists are doctors who did not attend traditional medical school. They go to specialized educational institutions and professional organizations. They receive the title "DPM" (doctor of podiatric medicine) instead of "MD" (medical doctor) preceding their names. Podiatrists can perform surgery, repair fractured bones, give medications, and arrange lab tests and X-rays.
Regarding your feet or lower legs, they often work with other specialists. Podiatrists in the United States are licensed and controlled by state governments.
Subspecialties within podiatry
Within the profession, podiatrists also have the option to further specialize from one of the following subspecialties:
- Sports medicine: A sports podiatrist is an expert in treating and preventing sports injuries related to the foot. These include pain in your foot and toes, ankle problems, heel pain, knee pain, hip pain, issues with your calf or Achilles tendon, leg and shin pain, and lower back pain. If you are an athlete, an amateur runner, or someone who needs support with improving your performance, you can seek consultation from a sports podiatrist. They see people of all ages.
- Pediatrics: A pediatric podiatrist's area of expertise includes foot care for the younger population. Even before a child is born, deficiencies in the lower extremities can create a destructive domino effect on the rest of the body. Pediatric podiatrists ensure proper care for these.
- Dermatology: As the term suggests, dermatology podiatry is a subspecialty within podiatry that entails the treatment of skin-related concerns in the lower extremities. Specialists here provide personalized treatment for both acute and severe issues, like fungal infections and eczematous dermatitis. They use cutting-edge medical therapies.
- Geriatrics: It is the subspecialty that manages foot care for older adults. The specialists here generally work in a team or use an interdisciplinary approach for treatment. They take the individual's podiatric and medical history, current problems, and the effects of past ailments and conditions into consideration. They also look at their and their family's ability to participate in the development of treatment plans.
- Diabetic foot care: Podiatrists specializing in this subspecialty detect and treat foot issues in people with diabetes. These may include neuropathy, arthropathy, and vasculopathy. They help people avoid complications that might arise out of delayed or avoided medical attention.
Conditions podiatrists can treat
Podiatrists see patients of all ages for various foot-related issues, including:
- Nail disorders: These include fungus infections in your nails and ingrown toenails. These occur when a nail's corner or side grows into your toe rather than straight out.
- Diabetes: This condition happens when your body does not make or use the hormone insulin, which helps digest sugar appropriately. Diabetes can result in nerve damage in your feet and legs, making it difficult for your body to supply enough blood to your feet.
- Sprains and fractures: Podiatrists regularly treat general foot and ankle injuries. They also work in sports medicine, treating players' foot ailments and educating them on how to avoid them.
- Bunions and hammertoes: These are concerns with your foot bones. A bunion occurs due to the joint at the base of your big toe expanding or becoming misaligned. Due to this, the toe bends towards the others. A hammertoe does not bend properly.
- Arthritis: It happens due to inflammation, edema, and joint wear and tear. Each foot contains 33 joints. To treat your arthritis, a podiatrist may offer medications, physical therapy, or special shoes or inserts. Surgery may be possible if other treatments do not work for you.
- Growing discomfort: A podiatrist can help if your child's feet point inward or appear flat or if their toes do not align properly. They may suggest workouts, insoles, or braces. They may also advise surgery.
Diagnosing process of a podiatrist
A podiatrist usually begins by examining a patient's symptoms and medical background during their check-up. They then physically examine the foot or injured area for skin discoloration or edema (swelling). Before arriving at a final diagnosis, they could ask the patient to undergo more tests, such as:
- Blood test: It is used to identify infections, inflammations, or autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.
- Imaging test: It helps look for bone fractures, structural issues, and congested or obstructed blood arteries.
- Quantitative sensory testing: A sophisticated computer system records how nerves react to vibration and temperature changes.
- Electromyography: It evaluates the responses of the muscles to nerve impulses.
How can diabetes impact your foot health?
People with diabetes frequently experience foot issues. Maintaining control of your blood glucose, sometimes referred to as blood sugar, helps support the health of your feet, and you can lessen the risk of diabetes-related foot issues by taking daily care of your feet.
Diabetes can lead to various foot issues, such as:
- Nerve Damage: Nerve damage can cause foot pain and numbness. A cut or blister can go unnoticed due to decreased nerve sensitivity, resulting in more significant issues like the loss of feeling in the feet and toes.
- Reduced blood flow to the feet: When blood flow to the feet reduces due to diabetes, sores or other issues take longer to heal and can get infected over time.
- Ulcers: Foot ulcers can develop on the toes of the foot, where a portion of the toe's tissue deteriorates to form an open wound. If not adequately treated, the damaged limb may need to be amputated.
- Charcot foot: Weakened foot bones can also be a result of a nerve injury. When these bones become too brittle, they may break, leading to foot abnormalities.
How can a podiatrist assist diabetic patients?
Podiatrists are qualified to diagnose diabetes-related foot issues and can evaluate nerve damage, identify particular foot health risks, and assist in developing a treatment and prevention strategy. Every six months, patients with diabetes (either type 1 or type 2) should have their feet evaluated to help detect any possible problems early.
During a diabetic foot evaluation, the podiatrist will check the blood flow to the feet by taking two pulse readings - the inside of the ankle. Establishing toe pressure, similar to measuring your arm's blood pressure, measures the quantity of blood flowing to the tip of your toes, which is another method of measuring blood flow. The results of this crucial exam determine the body's capacity to repair wounds. The podiatrist will also evaluate the sensitivity of the nerve endings in the foot using different methods.
How can you keep your feet healthy?
There are many tips to maintain your feet's hygiene and health. These include:
- Examine your feet regularly: Look for issues like cuts, sores, red patches, swelling, or fluid-filled blisters. Refer to a podiatrist if you notice ingrown toenails (nail penetrates the skin), corns or calluses (skin becomes rough from repeated rubbing or pressure), plantar warts (bottoms of the feet develop flesh-colored growths), athlete's foot, warm spots, etc.
- Wash your feet daily: Maintain your feet' health by washing them with soap and warm water, and use cornstarch or talcum powder between your toes to keep the skin dry and avoid infection.
- Gently shave off corns and calluses: It could be corn and calluses if you notice small rough patches on your feet. Consult your foot doctor about the best ways to treat them. These spots may become ulcers if you have nerve damage and need urgent care.
- Cut your toenails parallel: Straight across nail trimming using toenail clippers is recommended instead of trimming your toenail's corners. This trimming method keeps the nails from growing into your skin and prevents cuts.
- Maintain your feet' temperature: If you have diabetes-related nerve loss, you might burn your feet without realizing it; hence, take the appropriate precautions to keep your feet cool. Also, if you have icy feet, wear socks to bed or use waterproof boots with lining to keep your feet warm, especially in winter.
- Maintain blood flow to your feet: Proper blood flow in your feet is vital; you can maintain it daily by raising your feet while sitting, wiggling your toes in intervals for a short while, and moving your ankles inside and outside to improve blood flow to your feet and legs. Increasing your level of exercise and selecting foot-friendly activities like walking, dancing, yoga, swimming, or biking can also help regulate the blood flow in your feet. Wearing elastic stockings or tight socks is not advised.
What should you expect at your first appointment with a podiatrist or foot doctor?
If you are experiencing uncomfortable or painful foot symptoms, making an appointment with a podiatrist near you would be beneficial. It is normal to feel a little apprehension before visiting one, especially if it's your first time.
However, if you know what to expect, things can be a lot easier for you.
Here's a guide on what generally happens during a podiatric consultation:
- Symptoms: First, the podiatrist will want to understand your reason for visiting their clinic. Explain everything about your symptoms—when they started, what makes them better or worse, and how the condition impacts your daily life. It is always a good idea to show them pictures if you have any because this helps the podiatrist understand the progression of your condition.
- Personal and family history: Your provider will review your past and current medical history, family history, medications and supplement list, allergies, diagnostic reports, and surgeries. So, make sure you carry all of this information with you.
- Lifestyle habits: Be ready to answer questions about your exercise routine, diet plan, sleep schedule, foot hygiene habits, tobacco and alcohol use, and other lifestyle factors.
- Physical examination: After learning about your history, the podiatrist will perform a physical exam to inspect for abnormal signs in your feet, ankle, toenails, and lower legs. They may also ask you to stand or walk to assess your gait, range of motion, and shoe fitting.
- Diagnostic tests: Depending on the findings, they may order further tests to confirm the diagnosis. It can include blood tests and imaging tests such as X-ray, MRI, ultrasound, or bone scan.
- Treatment plan: Once they arrive at the correct diagnosis, they will explain it to you in detail and then make an appropriate treatment plan. The first line of treatment includes medications, topical creams, foot hygiene routine, and lifestyle tips. However, they may need to perform surgical procedures for more severe conditions.
- Follow-up care: Your podiatrist may ask you to visit for follow-ups to monitor if the treatment plan is helping improve the symptoms. If there is little progress, they will change the care plan accordingly.
How do you find a podiatrist near you in Paramus, NJ?
Foot issues and related complications may impact your overall physical health, thus making it essential for you to take good care of your legs and feet. Zocdoc can help you find an expert foot doctor near you. You can consult them regarding all your foot-related concerns.
Enter your location, such as Paramus, New Jersey, your symptoms or issue, and your preferred appointment date in the search bar. Zocdoc's comprehensive healthcare directory will list the most reliable and knowledgeable podiatrists near you. Each profile contains details like the doctor's educational background, board certifications, clinical interests, specializations, work experience, certifications, and spoken languages. Additionally, it provides information on the reviews and ratings from former clients.
Zocdoc also helps you find a podiatrist near you who will accept your insurance. If you are unsure, you can use the insurance detector by entering the information for your insurance provider in the search field. Besides, do not worry about the safety of your insurance information. Following the industry's best practices, keeping it secure is our top priorities. Click here to learn more about how Zocdoc handles privacy and data, and visit Zocdoc's patient help center if you have any insurance-related queries. Once you've chosen a doctor, Zocdoc also lets you schedule video consultations before in-person visits to understand your podiatrist better.
All bookings with Zocdoc are free, quick, and safe.
Diabetes statistics of New Jersey
As per a report from the American Diabetes Association, in New Jersey, 645,000 people (9.2% of the adult population) have diabetes, which is also one of New Jersey's top ten causes of death. Furthermore, it has an extra 207,000 persons with diabetes who are unaware of it, dramatically raising their risk for foot issues and other health conditions.
In New Jersey, ~2,395,000 adults, or 34% of the adult population, are prediabetic, i.e., their blood glucose levels are above normal. However, these levels are not yet high enough to be considered diabetic. An estimated 53,000 New Jersey residents receive a diabetes diagnosis each year. Diabetes not only negatively impacts the well-being of New Jersey's residents but also costs the state a significant amount of money.
According to the National Diabetes Statistics Report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2014, although diabetes-related foot and lower leg amputation has decreased by ~65% nationally since 1996, people over 20 with diabetes account for about 60% of the total non-traumatic lower-limb amputations.
Sources
The Walking Clinic Podiatrists
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Credihealth
American Diabetes Association
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[2]
WebMD
Foot & Ankle Institute of New England
American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine
TOP DOCTORS
American College of Foot and Ankle Pediatrics
UConn Health
National Center for Biotechnology Information
