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On average, patients who use Zocdoc can search for a Podiatrist in Sterling, book an appointment, and see the Podiatrist within 24 hours. Same-day appointments are often available, you can search for real-time availability of Podiatrists in Sterling who accept your insurance and make an appointment online.
Zocdoc lets you search specifically for a Sterling Podiatrist who takes your insurance. Just choose your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. If you’re not sure which plan you have, you can use Zocdoc’s insurance checker to find out.
Zocdoc is a free online service that helps patients find Podiatrists in Sterling and book appointments instantly. You can search for Sterling Podiatrists by symptom or visit reason. Then, choose your insurance plan. Based on that information, you’ll see a list of providers who meet your search criteria, along with their available appointment slots.
When you search for Sterling Podiatrists on Zocdoc, you can filter your results by gender, in addition to other criteria. That way, you’ll only see Podiatrists in Sterling who match your preferences.
On Zocdoc, you can search specifically for Sterling Podiatrists with availability after 5 p.m.
You can use Zocdoc to find Podiatrists in Sterling who are highly rated by other patients. These ratings are based on verified reviews submitted by real patients. Every time a patient completes an appointment booked on Zocdoc, they’re invited to review their experience. Each review must comply with Zocdoc’s guidelines.
Podiatrists in Sterling on Zocdoc who see patients through online video visits will have a purple video icon on their profiles. You can also filter your search results to show only Podiatrists who offer video visits.
Most insurers provide coverage for video visits at the same cost as in-person visits. You can search on Zocdoc specifically for Podiatrists in Sterling who accept your insurance for video visits by selecting your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. We recommend you check with your insurance carrier directly to confirm your coverage and out of pocket costs for video visits.
Zocdoc lets you search specifically for a Podiatrist who has appointments available before 10:00 am, or after 5:00 pm. Just choose the special hours filter at the top of our search page.
Zocdoc let's you see real-time availability for Podiatrists in Sterling. Many Podiatrists offer appointments on Saturdays and Sundays.
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."
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:
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.
Podiatrists can further subspecialize by completing a podiatry fellowship of one year. Some of the standard podiatry subspecialties include the following:
Listed below are a few prevalent foot problems:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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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.
American Podiatric Medical Association
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Federation of Podiatric Medical Boards
American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES OF PODIATRIC MEDICINE
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.