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Crofton, MD 21114

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Posts for: January, 2017

By Crofton Podiatry
January 26, 2017

With the Superbowl right around the corner, football fans are gearing up for the ultimate game of the year. As is typical of the sport, however, many injuries have been plaguing the teams as they play harder than ever to get to the top spots.

Leading up to the AFC and NFC championships, for example, the foot, ankle, and knee injury list was extensive: Anthony Chickillo (ankle), Ricardo Matthews(high right ankle sprain), Davante Adams (ankle), David Bakhtiari (knee),Damarious Randall (foot), JC Tretter (knee), Richard Sherman (knee),DeShawn Shead (knee),among others. This is not even an extensive list of allthe other injuries, including shoulder injuries and concussions.

While some athletes are out for the championship game, other may play through them, even with risk of re-injury. Julio Jones (Falcons) did this during the playoffs and re-injured his toe, which caused him pain due to an earlier sprain. Though they have great teams for rehabilitation and recovery, not allowing previous injuries to fully heal can leave athletes more prone to bigger injury or long-term issues.   

Risks of Playing with Injuries

Since football is very much a contact sport, the risks of injury are always high. Butting heads, tweaking ankles from juking movements, and turf toe injuries are not uncommon. Repetitive motions can also cause injury, usually in the form of strains (e.g. plantar fasciitis) or even, stress fractures.

In the case of Julio Jones, it’s likely that the toe sprain is caused by the repeated strain or tearing of the ligaments, causing pain. These types of tissue injuries take treatment and need time to heal fully, but because he continues to play (as do other athletes), it will likely continue to cause pain. If he indeed does have torn ligaments, they can cause permanent changes in his feet, including chronic pain and deformity (shifted toe structure). Pain related to the big toe joint may indicate a Turf Toe injury, which athletes often experience. On the other hand, if the pain is in the other toes or ball of the foot, it could be or become a Plantar Plate Tear.

Hopefully, these athletes will take the time they need to rest and recover so that top players can take part in the Superbowl, should their teams be a part of it. If you’ve been playing some football or other sports and suffered foot or ankle injuries, don’t ignore it! Unlike these pro-athletes, you do not have a large team to take care of your injuries. Turn to our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brad Toll of Crofton Podiatry to take care of your needs. Call us today at (410) 721-4505 to make an appointment and get treatment sooner than later! We treat patients at our Crofton, MD office, which also serves the Gambrills, Odenton, and Bowie areas as well.


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By Crofton Podiatry
January 19, 2017
Tags: warts   plantar warts   verrucus   contagious   virus  

Have you been contending with warts for a while now? Perhaps they keep coming back or appearing in new areas. Maybe plantar warts, or verrucas, are causing you pain because they are on the part of the foot that you have to put pressure on when you walk. Well, Dr. Brad Toll at Crofton Podiatry can help!

What Are Plantar Warts and Where Did You Get Them?

Warts in general are contagious. They are a manifestation of the viruses that through breaks in the skin and cause a change in your skin’s appearance and sometimes be painful. On other parts of the skin, there can be a white bump with small black dots in the middle. Plantar warts, however are on the bottom of your feet and usually are not raised from the skin (not a bump).

You can get them from anyone else who has been affected by it, making you susceptible to infection whenever you are barefoot. Skin-to-skin contact, sharing towels, and walking on the same shower floor as someone else with plantar warts are ways in which you can be infected.

What Are Your Treatment Options?

Sometimes, verrucas can go away without any treatment. However, that does not mean that the virus has left your body. In fact, it can live in your body for a while.

If you have pain or other reason to treat your plantar wart(s), your at-home options include: salicylic acid treatment in the form of creams or gels, and duct tape over the wart for a few days to smother the wart.

At the office, treatment options include cryotherapy, surgery, chemical treatments, or in some cases, laser cautery.

For the best way to take care of your painful or pesky plantar warts, make an appointment by calling us at (410) 721-4505. Our board-certified podiatrist will assess and treat you at our Crofton, MD office, which serves Gambrills, Odenton, and Bowie areas as well.

 


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By Crofton Podiatry
January 11, 2017
Category: sports injuries

Kiai! And then boom! You see multiple wooden boards crack in between someone’s hands. It’s amazing when you see martial arts masters kick through wood or concrete and come out without so much as a bruise on their feet! How is this possible?

After some study, there seems to be a logical explanation through physics. Every object has a level of elasticity – the ability to be stretched or compressed and then go back to its normal shape. Kicking puts a force on the object (planks of wood or blocks of concrete), breaking the limits of elasticity the object has. Our hands/arms and feet/legs are able to endure much more force through our bones, tissues, and fat than a wooden board or block of concrete can. Additionally, the motion involves a slight spring/pull back, which activates the elastic movements of the object to the point of breaking, while reducing the elastic force on our hands or feet.

A bit complex, but that is how Martial Arts masters are able to swiftly kick through boards without anything more than possibly a redness on their feet. These masters practice and focus their punches, chops, and kicks until their technique allows them to apply force and use an object’s elasticity against itself. Again, it takes practice. There is no shortcut as you will find out if you try without understanding the motions. You can end up with injuries that range from severe bruises to broken bones. 

Perhaps you or your children have thought about being able to do this. Under proper instruction and guidance, you may one day be able to! But don’t take this lightly. Like with many other sports, you are risking injury – whether it be blunt trauma or overuse injuries. Discipline is part of this sport and it can include repeated movement until it has been perfected, meaning possible issues like foot or ankle sprains, Achilles tendinitis, and plantar fasciitis.

If you have previous injuries or are worried about incurring injuries, but wish to engage in the practice of martial arts, come see us first. We can assess your feet and ankles’ readiness to participate in this sport and find solutions for pre-existing issues. If you do incur injury during a martial arts class, it is best to get it treated right away. Dr. Brad Toll at Crofton Podiatry would be happy to see you at his Crofton, MD office. Make an appointment by calling us today! We treat patients from the surrounding Gambrills, Odenton, and Bowie areas as well.


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By Crofton Podiatry
January 04, 2017
Category: Diabetes
Tags: foot soaks   winter boots   moisturizer  

For diabetics, foot care is important every day of the year. In the winter, however it is particularly important to keep feet healthy because of the added winter-related risks. As you lose feeling in your feet, it is important to keep warm to prevent frostbite.

Here are some tips that we’d like to offer you to keep healthy and warm this winter:

  • Continue to inspect your feet every day. Look for signs of bacterial or fungal infections that may happen
  •  from getting sweaty in warm footwear. Also make sure that the skin on your feet is moisturized to prevent cracking.
  • Winter boots, while meant to be warm and waterproof, can still get wet inside. Snow/rain can sneak in or if your feet are too warm, your feet can get sweaty. Either way, wet feet in these circumstances can cause you to be even colder, or put you at higher risk of bacterial or fungal infections. Try not to wear the same shoes every day and make sure to air them out often.
  • A warm foot soak or bath can help you feel better in cold weather. However, make sure you check the temperature of the water before putting your feet in hot water to reduce risk of burning your feet! The same goes for if you are warming your feet on a heating pad or fireplace.
  • Brave the cold. The cold makes us all want to cuddle up on the couch or in bed with a warm blanket and hot cup of cocoa. However, you shouldn’t make the cold an excuse to become sedentary. Try to do some exercises indoors and get creative with ways you can keep moving and circulation going. Your end goal should be to keep active and control the warm sugary treats you might wish to indulge in.

Diabetic foot care can be tricky. If you have any concerns about your feet, please come see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brad Toll. For further questions about these tips, or for more information, make an appointment with us at Crofton Podiatry. We serve patients living in the Crofton, MD and the surrounding Gambrills, Odenton, and Bowie areas, so call us today at (410) 721-4505. 


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2411 Crofton Lane, Suite 25
Crofton, MD 21114

Podiatrist - Crofton, Crofton Podiatry, 2411 Crofton Lane, Suite 25, Crofton MD, 21114 (410) 721-4505