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Who is a podiatrist?

Podiatrists are uniquely qualified doctors who focus on understanding, preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases and conditions of the feet, ankles, and the surrounding structures of the lower extremities. 

Human feet are flexible structures made up of 26 bones and numerous joints, tendons, ligaments, and muscles that work in coordination to support the weight of our bodies, absorb all kinds of shocks, and stabilize us every time we stand, walk, or run. The anatomy of the feet is quite complex, and they are incredibly crucial to the overall well-being of our lives. 

Podiatrists were known as chiropodists in the earlier days. Today, they are known as podiatrists, podiatric physicians, or podiatric surgeons. All board-certified podiatrists in the US have the initials DPM after their names, which stands for "Doctor of Podiatric Medicine."

Roles and responsibilities of a podiatrist

The responsibilities of a podiatrist include diagnosing and managing conditions affecting the lower extremities. These specialized medical professionals can also often play a vital part in the early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases and diabetic disorders. Here are some important responsibilities of podiatrists:

• Personalized patient consultation: Engaging with patients individually, offering comprehensive guidance on preventive foot care, expert management, and treatment of disorders related to the lower extremities.
• Accurate diagnosis: Skillfully identifying various lower extremity conditions, including ulcers, tumors, skin or nail disorders, fractures, and acquired and congenital deformities like foot imbalances and weak feet.
• Deformity correction: Creating customized plaster casts, strappings, and orthotics to rectify deformities and promote effective alignment.
• Advanced treatment techniques: Employing innovative methodologies to address conditions like calluses, corns, heel spurs, bunions, arch issues, ingrown toenails, bone disorders, cysts, abscesses, and shortened tendons.
• Specialized casting: Designing adaptable casts for immobilizing ankle and foot fractures, sprains, and injuries, ensuring optimal recovery conditions.
• Enhancing mobility and comfort: Playing a crucial role in correcting balance and walking patterns, thereby improving overall movement functionality.
• Holistic approach: Recognizing the interconnected nature of foot symptoms with broader health conditions. Podiatrists appropriately refer patients to specialist physicians when indications point to underlying disorders such as arthritis, kidney diseases, diabetes, and heart ailments.

Training and education of podiatrists

To practice podiatry in the US, one has to finish four years of undergraduate school, four years of graduate training in an accredited podiatric medical school, and a residency training of three years at a hospital. Some even undergo fellowship training in certain specific fields of podiatry, such as sports medicine, diabetic care, wound care, surgery, and pediatrics. 

The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) accredits nine podiatry schools for providing graduate and pre-graduate training in podiatric medicine. 

After training at one of these schools, every podiatrist must clear the certification exam conducted by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine (ABPM) to become a board-certified podiatric physician or the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ABFAS) to become a board-certified podiatric surgeon. 

Every podiatrist must acquire a license to practice in any state in the US and renew their license every few years for it to be valid. In addition, all podiatrists must keep themselves updated with the recent developments in podiatry by attending seminars and workshops.

Subspecialties of podiatrists

Podiatrists can further subspecialize by completing a podiatry fellowship of one year. Some of the standard podiatry subspecialties include the following:

• Sports medicine: Podiatrists of this subspecialty focus on treating foot and ankle conditions and other associated injuries of athletes. They are also responsible for conservative management, such as dressing, padding, taping, casting, and splinting. Moreover, they receive training in rehabilitation techniques and physical therapy modalities. Sports medicine podiatrists also receive some of the highest compensation due to their involvement in performing quick procedures.

• Reconstructive foot and ankle: Specializing in surgical procedures, these podiatrists address complex conditions requiring advanced reconstructions and corrective techniques. Compared to other subspecialties, these podiatrists get lower compensation and face high complication rates.

• Wound care: These podiatrists focus on treating complex wounds and managing infections to limit complications. Wound care is a highly interdisciplinary field incorporating elements from plastic surgery, vascular surgery, dermatology, and infectious diseases.

• Public health: This subspecialty's podiatrists focus on preventive medicine and quality care. It is best suited for those who want to think about the bigger picture regarding clinical care, healthcare policy, and making a wider impact on care.

• Limb salvage/preservation: These podiatrists primarily work with vascular or diabetic patients. They focus on conducting or preventing lower extremity amputations, which means their fellowship comprises a heavier operative component.

• Pediatrics: Pediatric podiatrists focus on diagnosing and treating conditions in younger patients. They can help with gait, flat feet, bunions, crossover toes, athlete's foot, plantar warts, and ingrown toenails.

• Diabetic foot care: Podiatrists of this subspecialty focus on treating and managing foot and ankle conditions in diabetics. Diabetes can often damage different parts of the body, including the feet. In some cases, doctors may need to amputate toes, part of the foot, or an entire lower leg. Hence, these podiatrists help people prevent damage to their feet and keep them healthy.

What are the common foot problems?

Listed below are a few prevalent foot problems: 

• Bunions refer to the bony bumps located at the base of the big toe. The toe bends when we walk, and the weight gets distributed among the entire foot. In the presence of a bunion, the big toe bends towards the other toes, and the bony protrusion exerts pressure against the bone directly behind it. It causes your entire weight to fall on it every time you walk, making it very painful. Moreover, bunions can constantly rub against the shoes and cause calluses. Some signs of bunion deformation are tenderness, redness, warmth, swelling in the big toe region, limitation of movement and pain in the joint, and formation of corns or calluses. 

• Hammertoes are a condition usually seen in the middle three toes of the feet. The muscles and tendons around the joints of the toes affected by hammertoes are often out of balance, making the toes buckle, curl, or get stuck. Hammertoes can either be flexible or rigid. Flexible hammer toes are mild, and the joints still retain some movement. With rigid hammertoes, however, tendons around the toes are completely frozen, and movement is completely lost. Medications and physical therapy can fix flexible hammertoes, while rigid hammertoes need surgery. 

• Human nails generally grow over the flesh of the hands and feet. However, in people with ingrown toenails, the nails begin to grow into the flesh, causing swelling, pain, redness, and even pus formation in the region. This condition, commonly seen in the big toes, occurs due to ill-fitting shoes, toe injury, or improper nail care. Diabetic patients are more vulnerable to the formation of ingrown toenails. To lift the ingrown nail, podiatrists must perform surgery. 

• Sprains and fractures in the ankle joint are the most common foot injuries seen and treated by podiatrists. When ligaments of the ankle joint stretch or tear, it is known as sprained. Ligaments are the fibrous tissues that connect and hold the bones of a joint together. A sprained ankle can roll, twist, or turn in weird ways, causing pain, swelling, and a limited range of movements in the joint. Ice compresses, rest, and pain relievers are generally used for treating sprains. 

• Fractures in the ankle joint occur when the bones break, leading to extreme pain and swelling. Podiatrists treat fractures in ankles by immobilizing the region with the help of special boots or casts.

Get medical care from a podiatrist near you if you have severe pain, numbness, swelling, open wound, or infection in any parts of your feet that last longer than a day. 

How does diabetes affect feet?

In individuals with diabetes, the body faces challenges either in producing the hormone insulin, which is responsible for regulating blood sugar levels, or in effectively utilizing the sugar it produces. The blood sugar levels in these people are high, which diminishes the blood flow and damages the nerves, making them more vulnerable to problems in the feet. 

Diabetic complications in the feet usually present as dry and discolored toenails, dry and hard skin, pain, tenderness, and tingling sensation in the feet while standing and walking, and formation of calluses, soreness, or ulcers in the feet. Taking care of your feet and nails, checking for any changes daily, and fixing an annual appointment with a podiatrist near you go a long way in saving the feet of diabetic patients. 

What should you anticipate on your first visit with a podiatrist?

The podiatrist begins his examination by recording your detailed medical history, including questions on all the medicines you have taken in the past or are currently taking and any surgeries or medical procedures you have undergone. Before you begin your search by typing in "foot doctor near me," ensure that you have a prepared list of all your medications, including over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements, herbal remedies, and surgeries you have had.

After recording your history, the podiatrist will check the range of motion in your joints. Here, they will ask you to stand and walk a few steps. Make sure to take special shoes or inserts that you use regularly. The podiatrist will evaluate these to check for their fitting. 

Following the examination, depending on your complaint, the podiatrist will prescribe nail swabs, blood tests, or imaging studies, like ultrasounds, X-rays, or MRI scans, to evaluate your condition in detail. Some treatments that podiatrists generally suggest include medications for pain and growths, orthotics, padding for the shoes, or physical therapy.

What is the difference between a podiatrist and an orthopedist?

When delving into the roles of podiatrists and orthopedists, it's essential to grasp their unique focuses within the realm of healthcare.

An orthopedist takes on the responsibility of overseeing the health of bones, ligaments, muscles, nerves, and tendons throughout the body. Their expertise extends beyond the lower extremities, encompassing the entire musculoskeletal system.

On the other hand, a podiatrist is a medical specialist exclusively committed to the care of the ankle and foot. While orthopedists and podiatrists adeptly manage the intricacies of the ankle and foot, covering bones, joints, and soft tissues, the key difference lies in the podiatrist's additional focus on the biomechanics and dermatology specific to these areas.

This understanding of distinctions ensures that individuals seeking care can make well-informed decisions based on the specific expertise required for their ankle and foot health.

Ways to maintain healthy feet at home

A person can maintain foot hygiene and health at home in several ways. However, it is advisable to visit a licensed medical professional, such as a foot specialist or a podiatrist, if you suspect an infection or injury or already have a foot condition. Treating foot problems on your own using only over-the-counter medications or home remedies could harm your health. Search for a qualified podiatrist by searching "foot doctor near me." 

The following are some foot care tips that you can consider implementing at home:

• Ensure you wear well-fitting shoes- improper shoes can hamper your walking pattern and balance and lead to an injury. A shoe that fits well should allow the ball of your foot to be comfortable in the broadest part of the shoe. Find the correct running shoes according to your foot arch. Persons with flat feet or feet with low arches must buy shoes that promote stability and motion control. Before purchasing footwear, older adults should consult a podiatrist if they have specific health challenges. 

• Choose appropriate footwear for different sports- each sport is played differently and requires particular footwear. A podiatrist can help measure your feet accurately. Not only do sport-specific shoes optimize your performance in the sport, but they also help to prevent common sports injuries such as sprains, fractures, and strains. For example, sports like basketball, tennis, and volleyball require lighter shoes with thick soles that provide support for impact.

• Keep your feet dry and clean- Damp or sweaty feet (hyperhidrosis) are prone to bacterial and fungal infections. Washing your feet daily with a bar of antibacterial soap or using antifungal powders can help eliminate foul odor and keep your feet dry. Additionally, certain antiperspirants can temporarily stop the flow of sweat. 

• Invest in diabetic foot care- Diabetes may decrease blood flow to the feet. It can make it hard to resist infection or heal quickly from an injury. Diabetic foot complications, including nerve damage or neuropathy, foot ulcers, numbness, tingling sensations, and infections, can lead to amputation if left untreated. Diabetic patients must check their feet daily to ensure there are no open wounds, cuts, or bruises. Using lukewarm water to wash your feet and wearing comfortable-fitting shoes and diabetic socks can help prevent infections and improve blood flow. Further, avoid smoking, as that may also restrict blood flow to your feet. 

• Do not remove warts, corns, and calluses at home with over-the-counter liquids and pads (unless advised by a medical professional)- These practices could worsen your foot problem, especially if you have diabetes. Visit a podiatrist if you find burns, cuts, bruises, warts, or corn on your feet. 

Finding the best podiatrist near you in Sterling, Virginia

If you live in Sterling and are facing concerns related to your feet, you can begin your search for the best podiatrist through Zocdoc's website or app. Start by searching for a foot doctor in Sterling, Virginia, and on the Zocdoc website, just type in your symptom or condition, the address of your current residence with the zip code, the preferred date of appointment, and the current medical insurance that covers you in the search bar on Zocdoc. The website will immediately filter through all the podiatrists and present you with a curated list of the best podiatrists in your area.

There is a profile page on Zocdoc for each podiatrist that contains all of the information you need to make an educated choice. It includes their education and training, years of work experience, licenses and certifications, subspecialties they work under, and the awards they have received in the past. The page also contains detailed and verified narratives from previous patients, which you can peruse to choose the best podiatrist near you. 

As podiatric treatments can be expensive and long-term, having medical insurance cover them is extremely helpful. Zocdoc has you covered here, too, as all doctor profiles on Zocdoc list their accepted insurance policies. Click on your insurance from the drop-down menu and confirm if the podiatrist of your choice is in-network. Accordingly, you can update your Zocdoc account's insurance information to get auto-filtered results of podiatrists who accept your insurance. You can also upload a picture of your health plan card on the Zocdoc app to get filtered results. Check out Zocdoc's patient help center for more insurance-related FAQs.

All bookings on Zocdoc are fast, free, and secure!

Prevalence of podiatric risk factors in Sterling, Virginia

The Federation of Podiatric Medical Boards states that there are 569 podiatrists practicing in Virginia as of June 2021. A report on Loudoun County, which includes the city of Sterling, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that the percentage of diagnosed cases of diabetes in Loudoun County in 2018 was 5.5, and the rate of newly diagnosed diabetes cases for every 1000 people was 5.2. 

Moreover, the significant risk factors for diabetes are physical inactivity and obesity. As per the CDC website, the percentage of physical inactivity in Loudoun County in 2018 was 15.5 (SVI was 0.1136), and the rate of obesity was 21.5. With nerve damage being a common complication, diabetic patients have a significantly higher risk of sustaining severe foot injuries or losing feeling in their feet. 

Sources

WebMD[1]

WebMD[2]

Healthline[1]

American Podiatric Medical Association

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Federation of Podiatric Medical Boards

Healthline[2]

Healthline[3]

American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES OF PODIATRIC MEDICINE

Colorado Center of Orthopaedic Excellence

Med Sch

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.