Your choice of footwear is more than just a fashion statement. Footwear significantly impacts the health of your feet. Whether you are navigating hard surfaces or engaging in physical activities, the shoes you wear can make a difference. For concrete or other hard surfaces, wearing supportive shoes with softer soles and arch support are essential to minimize foot pain and prevent issues like calluses and corns. Lace-up boots can offer relief by maintaining leg alignment, although they may limit ankle mobility. However, high heels can cause significant physical stress, altering foot position and posture and potentially lead to long-term damage. Sports enthusiasts should prioritize shoes with adequate cushioning and stability to prevent injuries. Custom-made orthotics tailored to your foot's unique needs can help to address specific issues and prevent further injury. Regularly alternating and replacing your shoes can vary foot posture and decrease the risk of injury. If you are experiencing foot problems or need guidance on proper footwear choices, it is suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist for an exam, diagnosis, and treatment plan.

Everyday foot care is very important to prevent infection and other foot ailments. If you need your feet checked, contact Mark Isenberg, DPM from Center for Podiatric Excellence. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Everyday Foot Care

Often, people take care of their bodies, face and hair more so than they do for their feet. But the feet are a very important aspect of our bodies, and one that we should pay more attention to. Without our feet, we would not be able to perform most daily tasks.

It is best to check your feet regularly to make sure there are no new bruises or cuts that you may not have noticed before. For dry feet, moisturizer can easily be a remedy and can be applied as often as necessary to the affected areas. Wearing shoes that fit well can also help you maintain good foot health, as well as making it easier to walk and do daily activities without the stress or pain of ill-fitting shoes, high heels, or even flip flops. Wearing clean socks with closed shoes is important to ensure that sweat and bacteria do not accumulate within the shoe. Clean socks help to prevent Athlete’s foot, fungi problems, bad odors, and can absorb sweat.

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

A broken toe, often caused by accidents like dropping heavy objects on it or colliding with furniture, can result in significant discomfort and affect daily activities. Typically, treatment involves immobilizing the toe by taping it to an adjacent one. In more severe cases, casting or surgery may be required, especially if multiple toes or the big toe are affected. The average healing time for a broken toe ranges from six to eight weeks, but several factors can influence this duration. The extent of the injury, the number of joints involved, and any accompanying damage, such as ligament injuries, all play a role in the recovery timeline. Upon seeking medical attention from a podiatrist, an X-ray is generally conducted to assess the severity of the fracture and guide treatment decisions. For hairline fractures, rest and limited weight-bearing suffice, while splinting may be necessary for more severe cases. The use of crutches may be prescribed to alleviate pressure on the foot. If healing progresses slowly or complications arise, it is suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist for further evaluation and specialized care. 

A broken toe can be very painful and lead to complications if not properly fixed. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact Mark Isenberg, DPM from Center for Podiatric Excellence. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What to Know About a Broken Toe

Although most people try to avoid foot trauma such as banging, stubbing, or dropping heavy objects on their feet, the unfortunate fact is that it is a common occurrence. Given the fact that toes are positioned in front of the feet, they typically sustain the brunt of such trauma. When trauma occurs to a toe, the result can be a painful break (fracture).

Symptoms of a Broken Toe

• Throbbing pain
• Swelling
• Bruising on the skin and toenail
• The inability to move the toe
• Toe appears crooked or disfigured
• Tingling or numbness in the toe

Generally, it is best to stay off of the injured toe with the affected foot elevated.

Severe toe fractures may be treated with a splint, cast, and in some cases, minor surgery. Due to its position and the pressure it endures with daily activity, future complications can occur if the big toe is not properly treated.

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

Strengthening your ankle ligaments is essential for preventing sprains and enhancing stability, especially if you are active in sports or physical activities. Simple ankle exercises include pointing and flexing your toes and performing heel raises while focusing on controlled movements. Other simple, but effective, ankle strengthening exercises include partial knee squats, either against a wall or with a chair for support, and incorporating stair climbing into your workout routine. These exercises help build strength and stability in your ankles, reducing the risk of sprains and enhancing overall mobility. However, it is suggested that you consult with a podiatrist before starting any ankle exercise regimen, particularly if you have existing ankle joint issues or are experiencing ankle pain. For personalized exercise recommendations and treatments to address your ankle instability or weakness, it is suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist.

Exercising your feet regularly with the proper foot wear is a great way to prevent injuries and build strength. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact Mark Isenberg, DPM from Center for Podiatric Excellence. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Exercise for Your Feet

Exercise for your feet can help you gain strength, mobility and flexibility in your feet. They say that strengthening your feet can be just as rewarding as strengthening another part of the body. Your feet are very important, and we often forget about them in our daily tasks. But it is because of our feet that are we able to get going and do what we need to. For those of us fortunate enough to not have any foot problems, it is an important gesture to take care of them to ensure good health in the long run.

Some foot health exercises can include ankle pumps, tip-toeing, toe rises, lifting off the floor doing reps and sets, and flexing the toes. It is best to speak with Our doctor to determine an appropriate regimen for your needs. Everyone’s needs and bodies are different, and the activities required to maintain strength in the feet vary from individual to individual. 

Once you get into a routine of doing regular exercise, you may notice a difference in your feet and how strong they may become.

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

Turf toe is an injury common among athletes, particularly those who play on hard surfaces like artificial turf. It occurs when the big toe bends too far upwards, stretching or tearing the soft tissue underneath the toe joint. This type of injury is most often seen in sports that involve rapid starts, stops, and turns, leading to a sudden forceful impact on the toe. Symptoms of turf toe include pain at the base or joint of the big toe, swelling, and limited joint movement, making it difficult to walk or run. Some people also experience a popping sensation at the time of the injury. Symptoms may be more severe if there is extensive damage to the soft tissue. Proper diagnosis and treatment are important to manage pain, reduce inflammation, and ensure a full recovery. If you have big toe joint pain, it is suggested that you make an appointment with a podiatrist, or foot doctor, for diagnosis. Turf toe is not the only possible cause of big toe joint pain, and each condition has specialized treatment that podiatrists may recommend. 

Toe pain can disrupt your daily activities. If you have any concerns, contact Mark Isenberg, DPM of Center for Podiatric Excellence. 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 Pensacola, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.