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What is a podiatrist? 

A podiatrist specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating lower extremity disorders. The lower extremity includes the feet, ankles, and related structures of the leg, including the nails. Podiatrists can prescribe medication and order diagnostic tests such as X-rays and lab tests. They can perform surgical procedures such as resetting broken bones and design corrective plaster casts, orthotics, and strappings to treat deformities. 

Podiatrists may also create flexible casting to help immobilize foot and ankle fractures, sprains, strains, and other injuries. Additionally, podiatrists manage post-injury recovery by providing rehabilitation and balance techniques, exercises, and correct walking patterns to promote the ability to move efficiently. 

Podiatric physicians can work independently or in a team of other healthcare professionals. They typically work in private or group medical practices, hospitals, extended care facilities, health maintenance, and government organizations. 

Education and subspecialties of a podiatrist 

Podiatrists are not doctors of medicine (M.D.s). However, they earn a DPM or a doctor of podiatric medicine degree, which allows them to practice in various states in the U.S. Podiatric physicians follow a path similar to that of a general physician. They need to complete undergraduate studies in biology, chemistry, physics, or another field of science. They then complete four years of podiatry school, learning how bones, nerves, and muscles interact to help movement. They also study diseases and disorders of the legs and feet. 

After completing graduate school, they also need to complete a two-year post-graduate residency training program, which provides them with interdisciplinary experience with rotations such as anesthesiology, infectious disease, surgery, internal medicine, emergency department, and pediatrics.

Podiatrists may also specialize in a specific type of condition, body part, or field of medicine. Some subspecialties of podiatric medicine include- 

• Podopediatrics (also known as pediatric podiatry)
• Diabetes foot care or podiatric diabetology
• Podiatric Rheumatology (which involves treatment and care of rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune conditions)
• Reconstructive foot and ankle surgery
• Podiatric sports medicine 
• Dermatological podiatry (which involves studying and treating conditions affecting the skin)
• Podiatric oncology (cancer treatment)
• Podiatric orthopedics (treatment of foot abnormalities with footwear, orthotics, and prosthetics) 

When to go to a podiatrist?

A podiatrist is a medical professional treating various feet and lower leg conditions, including:

-Nail infection or nail fungus causes thickened, brittle, crumbly, or ragged nails.

-Gout and arthritis cause pain in the feet and toes. Treatment is needed to ease symptoms of both gout and arthritis. A podiatrist can diagnose these conditions.

 -Flat feet are a condition that may require you to wear orthotics, like a foot brace or arch support, for flat feet and injured foot ligaments. A podiatrist will analyze the molds of the feet to do custom foot support braces for the patients.

-Foot issues due to diabetes, known as diabetic neuropathy, are common issues that diabetes patients face. This can cause numbness, tingling, pain, or a loss of feeling in your feet. If you have foot issues owing to diabetes, you will need to see a podiatrist. 

-Ankle and knee problems may also need long-term physical therapy to strengthen muscles and joints in your knee, ankle, and foot.

How does a podiatrist make a diagnosis?

The first step generally comprises analyzing the individual's symptoms and medical history. Subsequently, the podiatrist checks the affected area or foot physically. Here, they identify skin discoloration or indications of swelling and ask people to move their toes and feet in different directions. 

Based on their findings, they may ask the person to undergo extra tests before making their final diagnosis. Some of those exams are the following:

• Blood Test 

This test aims to identify inflammations, infections, or autoimmune illnesses comprising rheumatoid arthritis.

• Imaging Test

A podiatrist does this to check for structural problems, bone fractures, or narrow or blocked blood vessels.

• Electromyography 

This measures how muscles react to nerve impulses.

• Quantitative Sensory Testing 

This uses a specialized computer system to record how nerves respond to temperature changes and vibrations.

Podiatric treatments

After a diagnosis, the podiatrist checks the appropriate treatment. Occasionally, there may be other specialists who will support them. If the condition requires it, a complete healthcare team is involved. 

Some treatments a podiatric doctor provides are corrective footwear, orthotic devices, corticosteroids, and setting fractured bones. Also, these specialists can prescribe antibiotics, pain relievers, and antifungals. 

Some conditions demand surgical procedures. A podiatric surgeon will do this to fix a broken bone and treat inflammations and tendons, among others. Additionally, surgical procedures are necessary for correcting structural abnormalities and removing bunions.

Podiatrists and sports-related injuries

A foot doctor near you emerges as the optimal choice when dealing with sports-related injuries to the foot or ankle, not only due to their specialized training but also because of their ability to provide expert advice on injury prevention. Various common sports injuries that podiatrists are adept at treating include:

• Ankle sprain: Podiatrists are well-versed in treating ankle sprains, a frequent injury in sports. Their expertise extends to both treatment and preventive measures for athletes.
• Foot joint sprain: Similar to ankle sprains, podiatrists address sprains affecting foot joints, offering comprehensive care for athletes with these injuries.
• Plantar fasciitis: A prevalent cause of heel pain, podiatrists employ various treatments, including physical therapy, orthotics, night splints, and stretching exercises.
• Runner's knee: Addressing knee issues related to running, podiatrists guide treatments such as physical therapy, orthotic interventions, and appropriate footwear.
• Achilles tendonitis: Specializing in overuse injuries, podiatrists manage Achilles tendonitis by recommending treatments like heel inserts, stretching exercises, and physical therapy.
• Shin splints: Common in individuals with flat feet or improper footwear, podiatrists tackle shin splints through interventions like shoe inserts, physical therapy, and stretching exercises.
• Flat feet (Overpronation): Offering solutions for collapsed arches, podiatrists provide treatments like arch supports, advice on supportive shoes, stretching exercises, and physical therapy.
• High arches (Supernation): Addressing the challenges of high arches, podiatrists recommend custom orthotics, physical therapy, and exercises to alleviate pain and discomfort.
• Metatarsalgia: For pain in the ball of the foot, podiatrists use orthotics or shoe inserts, provide shoe advice, and prescribe stretching exercises to redistribute pressure effectively.
• Foot arthritis: Specializing in foot arthritis, podiatrists employ orthotics and shoe inserts to reduce stress on arthritic joints, offering shoe advice for enhanced comfort.
• Bunions: Podiatrists address bunions by utilizing orthotics, providing footwear advice, and managing associated symptoms like corns and calluses. While surgery is an option, podiatrists offer relief and guidance on the necessity of surgical intervention.

How do you maintain healthy feet?

Just as you brush your teeth regularly, you should take foot care daily. Foot hygiene can be maintained in the following ways:

• Check your feet regularly for sores, cuts, swelling, and infected toenails.
• Give them good care in warm water, but avoid soaking them since that may dry them.
• Moisturize them daily with cream, lotion, or petroleum jelly. Don't put moisturizer on your toes. It would help if you cared for skin dryness to avoid infection.
• Do not wear tight-fitting shoes. 
• Avoid flip-flops and flats as they do not give proper arch support.
• Trim the toenails straight across using a nail clipper. Use a nail filer to smoothen the nail. This should prevent the nail from growing into your skin.

Dos and don'ts before a podiatry appointment

Before seeing a podiatrist, you have to plan for it. It will aid you in making the most of their services. In preparation, the first thing to do is write down your symptoms and the questions you wish the doctor to answer. If you've undergone surgery or are on medication, take note of that. 

Have your lab results and medical records with you on the appointment day. Avoid shaving your feet or having a pedicure before an appointment. Since it can expose your feet to bacterial and fungal infections, a pedicure may only worsen the situation if you already have foot complications. Additionally, don't polish your nails. Nail polish can hide possible signs and symptoms of infections. Therefore, the doctor won't be able to examine your nails for potential problems.

Finding the best podiatrist near Tampa, Florida

Foot problems are common in every age group and can result in major inconveniences. Thus, access to expert care is vital. Finding the best foot doctor near you in Tampa, Florida, is now easier than ever! Zocdoc's website or mobile app is all you need to see the best podiatrist near you. 

Just fill in a few blanks, such as your foot problem and where you live, and Zocdoc will then list out the top-rated podiatrist in your area from its extensive database. You can select a specialist based on their comprehensive bio, verified patient reviews, and the insurance plans that they accept. You could also filter your search based on gender, spoken languages, and hospital affiliations. 

Once you have chosen the specialist you want to visit, making an appointment via Zocdoc is simple. It will show you all the available slots you can choose from, and based on the doctor's availability, you can also make same-day appointments with the best foot doctor near you. All bookings on Zocdoc are free, fast, and secure!  

Foot problems statistics in Florida

Diabetes and arthritis are two of the biggest causes of foot problems that require expert podiatric care. Approximately 2,350,321 people, i.e., 13.1% of Florida's adult population, have been diagnosed with diabetes, while around 38.7% of the adult population have prediabetes with blood glucose levels higher than average. An estimated 105,000 people in the state are diagnosed with diabetes every year.

The United Health Foundation reported that 24.5% of the U.S. population was suffering from arthritis in 2021, while Florida's statistics showed that a staggering 24% of the population had arthritis. 

Sources

Healthline

WebMD[1]

America's Health Rankings

Population Reference Bureau

Florida Diabetes Alliance Inc.

WebMD[2]

Verywell Health

American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine 

Upperline Heath

The House Clinics

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.