Items filtered by date: November 2022

A condition commonly known as turf toe is a sprain of the ligaments on the underside of the joint of the big toe. It is common to football players and runners who push off the big toe in a burst of energy when preparing to run. It is also common among dancers, gymnasts, and wrestlers. The injury occurs when the big toe is bent more than 90 degrees as the heel is raised off the ground. Picture a runner who is ready to push off the ground in a race, or a football lineman waiting for the quarterback’s signal. The severity of the sprain will indicate the amount of pain involved. A mild sprain causes pain and swelling that can last a week or two. A moderate sprain may last more than a couple of weeks. A severe turf toe sprain involves a complete rupture of the ligament on the sole of the foot and is quite rare. This injury will take longer to heal. If you believe you have sustained a turf toe injury, it is a good idea to visit a podiatrist for immediate and thorough treatment.

Toe pain can disrupt your daily activities. If you have any concerns, contact one of our podiatrists of Prince William Foot & Ankle Center, PC. Our practitioners 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 offices located in Gainesville and Dulles, VA . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

Shoes that do not fit well or those with high heels are a common cause of foot pain and can also lead to chronic conditions affecting other parts of the body. Athletes can prevent injury and pain by paying attention to a few tips that include making sure their shoes fit well and are supportive, selecting shoes that are appropriate for the activity to be done, and making any necessary adjustments to shoes prior to working out. It is important to pay close attention to shoe size and measure feet prior to trying shoes on. Feet swell as the day wears on, and shoe sizes vary across and between brands. Function and fit should be given precedence over fashion. Running shoes are different than hiking shoes and streetwear shoes are not the best for training. Different athletic shoes are developed to protect the areas of the feet that are most stressed by the activity. Shoe inserts, pads, or cups can be used in shoes to relieve chronic pain symptoms. If you enjoy running and want to continue your sport more comfortably, it is suggested you have your gait analyzed by a podiatrist. This healthcare practitioner can also observe any special adjustments needed for your shoes and advise on the best shoes for you. 

If you are a runner, wearing the right running shoe is essential. For more information, contact one of our podiatrists from Prince William Foot & Ankle Center, PC. Our practitioners 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 offices located in Gainesville and Dulles, VA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Ingrown toenails are a pesky foot condition that can develop when the sides of the toenails essentially grow into the skin. Sometimes, this can result in the skin around the nail growing over the sides of the toenail. Although some people with this condition might not feel any specific symptoms, others might feel pain. There are important steps that you can take to prevent ingrown toenails. First, you ought to consider wearing shoes that fit properly. Tight shoes can lead to the squeezing of the toes. Second, you can work on trimming your toenails properly. Keeping the nails too short or in a crooked shape can ultimately encourage the surrounding skin to grow over the nail. Contact a podiatrist today to learn about more preventative measures you can take against ingrown toenails.

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact one of our podiatrists of Prince William Foot & Ankle Center, PC. Our practitioners can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails occur when a toenail grows sideways into the bed of the nail, causing pain, swelling, and possibly infection.

Causes

• Bacterial infections
• Improper nail cutting such as cutting it too short or not straight across
• Trauma to the toe, such as stubbing, which causes the nail to grow back irregularly
• Ill-fitting shoes that bunch the toes too close together
• Genetic predisposition

Prevention

Because ingrown toenails are not something found outside of shoe-wearing cultures, going barefoot as often as possible will decrease the likeliness of developing ingrown toenails. Wearing proper fitting shoes and using proper cutting techniques will also help decrease your risk of developing ingrown toenails.

Treatment

Ingrown toenails are a very treatable foot condition. In minor cases, soaking the affected area in salt or antibacterial soaps will not only help with the ingrown nail itself, but also help prevent any infections from occurring. In more severe cases, surgery is an option. In either case, speaking to your podiatrist about this condition will help you get a better understanding of specific treatment options that are right for you.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Gainesville and Dulles, VA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.