Items filtered by date: September 2022

People who have pain in their big toe may be unaware it can indicate an underlying medical condition. These can include bunions, ingrown toenails, and gout. A bunion is a deformity that is noticeable from the bony lump that forms on the side of the big toe. Gout is a condition that affects the joints in the big toe and can be extremely painful. An ingrown toenail is often noticed by pain in the big toe and can become infected if prompt treatment is not received. Additionally, there may have been an injury that has happened to the metatarsophalangeal, or MTP joint, and this can cause sharp pain in the big toe. It may be difficult to complete daily activities, and larger shoes may need to be purchased. There are several methods to treat toe pain, and it is strongly suggested that you contact a podiatrist to determine the source of your pain.

Toe pain can disrupt your daily activities. If you have any concerns, contact David Carmack, DPM of Texas. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Causes Toe Pain?

Most severe toe pain is caused due to a sports injury, trauma from dropping something heavy on the toe, or bumping into something rigid. Other problems can develop over time for various reasons.

Toe pain can be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:

• Trauma
• Sports injury
• Wearing shoes that are too tight
• Arthritis
• Gout
• Corns and calluses
• Hammertoe
• Bunions
• Blisters
• Ingrown toenails
• Sprains
• Fractures (broken bones)
• Dislocations

When to See a Podiatrist

• Severe pain
• Persistent pain that lasts more than a week
• Signs of infection
• Continued swelling
• Pain that prevents walking

Diagnosis

In many cases the cause of toe pain is obvious, but in others, a podiatrist may want to use more advanced methods to determine the problem. These can range from simple visual inspections and sensation tests to X-rays and MRI scans. Prior medical history, family medical history, and any recent physical traumatic events will all be taken into consideration for a proper diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatments for toe pain and injuries vary and may include shoe inserts, padding, taping, medicines, injections, and in some cases, surgery. If you believe that you have broken a toe, please see a podiatrist as soon as possible.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Marble Falls, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

If you are a runner, you are undoubtedly familiar with the importance of selecting the right kind of running shoe. While shopping for your first pair of running shoes on the internet might be convenient and fast, you may consider shopping for that first pair in an actual store. When visiting a store (such as a specialty running shop), it might be possible for you to receive a gait analysis, which can help you identify exactly what features your shoes should have. Additionally, since selecting the right running shoe is all about finding the correct fit, being physically in the store can make it easier for you to try on a variety of different sizes that first time. This can also help you identify which brands of running shoes tend to run smaller or larger compared to others. Lastly, shopping in the actual store will enable you to take any orthotics that you use with you and try them out in potential running shoes. If you have any more questions about picking running shoes, contact a podiatrist.

If you are a runner, wearing the right running shoe is essential. For more information, contact David Carmack, DPM from Texas. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Choosing the Right Running Shoe for Your Foot Type

To increase performance and avoid the risk of injury, it is important to choose the right running shoe based on your foot type. The general design of running shoes revolves around pronation, which is how the ankle rolls from outside to inside when the foot strikes the ground.

• Neutral runners are able to choose from a wide variety of shoes, including minimalist shoes or even going barefoot.
• Runners who overpronate, or experience an over-abundance of ankle rolling, should choose shoes that provide extra motion control and stability.
• Runners who underpronate, or supinate, have feet that have high arches and lack flexibility, preventing shock absorption. They require shoes with more flexibility and cushion.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Marble Falls, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Anyone who takes up running as a way to keep fit is well advised by experts to make sure they have the proper shoes for that activity. But in some cases, one pair of running shoes may not be enough. In fact, it is suggested that anyone running more than four or more times per week rotate their running shoes. The main reasons given are to lower the risk of injuries, improve performance, and increase the lifespan of the shoes. Studies show that rotating your running shoes can reduce injuries by 40 percent. This is mainly due to lowering the repetitive stress factor. Further, because different types of running call for different types of shoes, it is wise to have several pairs. For instance, you may need a shoe with more cushioning for a harder run than for an easier run. Experts also suggest paying attention to the midsole foam content of your shoes, because compression may be a source of injury. For more information on finding the right running shoes, please consult a podiatrist.

Exercising your feet regularly with the proper foot wear is a great way to prevent injuries. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact David Carmack, DPM of Texas. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

How to Prevent Running Injuries

Many common running injuries are caused by overuse and overtraining. When the back of the kneecap starts wearing out and starts causing pain in your knee, this is commonly referred to as runner’s knee. Runner’s knee is a decrease in strength in your quadriceps and can occur if you’re not wearing properly fitted or supporting shoes. To prevent runner’s knee, focusing on hip strengthening is a good idea, as well as strengthening your quads to keep the kneecaps aligned.

What Are Some Causes of Running Injuries?
- One cause of a common running injury is called iliotibial band syndrome.
- Plantar fasciitis is also another common injury.
- Stress fractures can occur from overtraining, lack of calcium, or even your running style.

Best Ways to Prevent Running Injuries
- Wear footwear that fits properly and suits your running needs.
- Running shoes are the only protective gear that runners have to safeguard them from injury.
- Make a training schedule. Adding strengthening exercises as well as regular stretching can help keep you strong and limber and can lessen the possibility of injuries.
- Stretching keeps muscles limber; this will help you gain better flexibility.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Marble Falls, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

When muscles, ligaments, or tendons in the feet become imbalanced from improper footwear, genetic foot conditions, diabetes, or neurological damage, a hammertoe may develop. This is a contracture deformity of joint(s) in a toe, causing it to become bent or curled, rather than laying flat and pointing forward. Hammertoes are a progressive disorder. At first, they are flexible (moveable), but may become rigid (fixed) if left untreated. Aside from being unattractive, hammertoes can cause corns and calluses to develop, as the bent toe can rub repeatedly against footwear. Hammertoes can also lead to other, more serious, complications such as bunions, arthritis pain, and  metatarsalgia. Treating a hammertoe in its early stages is important, before it becomes rigid and may require surgery. Contact a podiatrist as soon as you notice that your toe seems stuck in a bent position. Depending on the severity, pain, and cause of your hammertoe, your podiatrist may be able to treat it conservatively with orthotics and a change in footwear, specific exercises, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections and more.

Hammertoe

Hammertoes can be a painful condition to live with. For more information, contact David Carmack, DPM from Texas. Our doctor will answer any of your foot- and ankle-related questions.

Hammertoe is a foot deformity that affects the joints of the second, third, fourth, or fifth toes of your feet. It is a painful foot condition in which these toes curl and arch up, which can often lead to pain when wearing footwear.

Symptoms

• Pain in the affected toes
• Development of corns or calluses due to friction
• Inflammation
• Redness
• Contracture of the toes

Causes

Genetics – People who are genetically predisposed to hammertoe are often more susceptible

Arthritis – Because arthritis affects the joints in your toes, further deformities stemming from arthritis can occur

Trauma – Direct trauma to the toes could potentially lead to hammertoe

Ill-fitting shoes – Undue pressure on the front of the toes from ill-fitting shoes can potentially lead to the development of hammertoe

Treatment

Orthotics – Custom made inserts can be used to help relieve pressure placed on the toes and therefore relieve some of the pain associated with it

Medications – Oral medications such as anti-inflammatories or NSAIDs could be used to treat the pain and inflammation hammertoes causes. Injections of corticosteroids are also sometimes used

Surgery – In more severe cases where the hammertoes have become more rigid, foot surgery is a potential option

If you have any questions please contact our office located in Marble Falls, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.