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Posts for: January, 2019

By Crofton Podiatry
January 30, 2019
Category: Heel Pain
Tags: running   Plantar Fasciitis   Football   soccer   sneakers  

Once you begin to experience pain along the bottoms of the feet, due to plantar fasciitis, it can become a chronic problem. The pain on the soles of the feet occurs because of inflammation from overstrained ligaments. Each day that the feet have overwork or strain to stabilize the feet in unsupportive shoes, the plantar fascia can become aggravated.

If you have chronic plantar fasciitis that causes you nightly pain, you may want to limit the following activities:

  • Running – The repeated impact on the bottoms of the feet, as well as the strain of running or jogging for long distances, can cause chronic pain. To prevent getting chronic pain from running, make sure you use supportive running shoes with ample cushioning and support. Replace sneakers as soon as they seem to be wearing down. Folks with plantar fasciitis can continue to run as the symptoms usually present at rest. That puts injured runners at risk of worsening symptoms. Instead, at the first sign of symptoms, be sure to treat the condition.
  • Plyometrics – These are activities that incorporate cardiovascular exercise, as well as strength building. It reinforces the fast-twitch muscles in the legs. These exercises include jumping and can aggravate plantar fasciitis each time you land hard on the feet. Box jumps, jump squats, and long jumps are all exercises that can aggravate chronic plantar fasciitis pain.
  • High-impact sports or activities – Like running and plyometrics, any exercise involving high impact on the feet can cause aggravated plantar fasciitis pain. Constant pounding of the grass or pavement, like in football or soccer can cause inflammation of the plantar fascia.

Stretching, icing, massage, and rest are helpful in relieving symptoms related to chronic plantar fasciitis. Wear shoes with lots of cushioning and support to minimize the development of symptoms throughout the day. If you have to, include the use of over-the-counter or custom-made orthotics.

If you feel that your plantar fasciitis pain is becoming worse, make an appointment with our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brad Toll. He will help you find treatment for your foot pain. Call Crofton Podiatry at (410) 721-4505, which provides services to Crofton, Gambrills, Odenton, and Bowie, MD areas.


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By Crofton Podiatry
January 23, 2019
Category: Fungal toenails

Fungal problems are more common than you think. They can affect many parts of the body, from the tops of your heads to the bottoms of your feet. For the feet, in particular, the most common issues affect the skin and the toenails. In fact, one infection (toenail fungus) can start from another (Athlete’s foot).

Where would you get this fungal infection on your feet?

Some places where you might have picked up the infection include the gym locker room, sharing a towel with someone who has a fungal infection or from the tools at the last pedicure you received. 

Fungus thrives in moist and warm environments. So moisture + a break in the skin of a warm foot = fungal infection. It passes from person to person, foot to foot, and toenail to toenail pretty easily. Once your toenails are infected, they are likely to become discolored, thick, brittle, and develop a smell.

So what can you do to prevent a stubborn fungal toenail infection?

  • Practice good hygiene. Wash every day with soap and warm water to reduce the risk of developing an infection.
  • Do not walk around barefoot in a gym locker room. Wear flip-flops or sandals, especially if you’re using a communal shower.
  • If you are prone to sweating a lot due to hyperhidrosis, bring a pair of socks to change into when your socks have soaked through.
  • You can also use antifungal or foot powder in your socks or shoes to reduce moisture in the shoes. 
  • Do not share nail grooming tools with someone who is infected (or at least be very diligent about disinfecting).
  • Cut your toenails properly. Ingrown toenails can cause breaks in the skin that make you more prone to a fungal infection.
  • Go to a reputable salon for a pedicure. Make sure that you can see how they sterilize their tools. Otherwise, schedule your pedicure for their first appointment of the day to ensure that they are starting the day with freshly cleaned tools on you.
  • If you have Athlete’s foot or other fungal infection on your hands, be sure to clean your hands often before touching your toes. Treat your Athlete’s foot condition promptly to prevent spreading.
  • You may have to stop using nail polish altogether as your toenails will have a harder time recovering from a fungal infection when it cannot breathe (due to polished nails).

These prevention measures should lower the risk of having to deal with fungal toenails. However, if you do somehow get infected, our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brad Toll, can help you treat the condition with topical or oral medication or painless laser therapy! Request an appointment by calling Crofton Podiatry at (410) 721-4505, which provides services to Crofton, Gambrills, Odenton, and Bowie, MD areas.


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By Crofton Podiatry
January 16, 2019
Category: Seniors Foot Care
Tags: corns   calluses   Orthotics   Ulcers   arthritis   Hammertoes   Diabetic   ingrown   odor   neuromas   foot exams   rashes   exercises   swollen  

As older loved ones age, it’s even more important that caregivers look to taking care of the feet. With age comes many complex health issues, including ones that affect mobility like arthritis, osteoporosis, asthma, diabetes, and heart problems. In some cases, the feet can be the first to experience issues associated with many of these problems, even pointing you in the right direction when it comes to a diagnosis.

Here are some ways to care for senior feet and why they are important:

  • Regular hygiene – It’s important to wash the feet with soap and warm water every day to prevent bacterial and fungal infections. If the skin tends to get dry, apply some moisturizer. Keep in mind that even if seniors are not as active, the feet can sweat and develop an unpleasant odor due to bacteria.
  • Frequent foot exams – While helping your loved one wash up, inspect for any new skin issues, like cuts, scrapes, rashes, skin breakdown, or even ulcers. Depending on other health issues he or she might have, their skin may have trouble healing properly, or even feeling that there is a problem. For example, diabetic patients may begin to lose feeling in their feet due to diabetic neuropathy. This is caused by high blood sugar levels damaging the nerves. If you don’t pay attention, a wound can become an infected ulcer, requiring immediate treatment.
  • Proper toenail trimming – Toenails need to be cut straight across. Otherwise, they may become ingrown and cause pain. Additionally, allowing them to get too long can cause them to break and cause pain.
  • Daily exercises – Keeping feet strong and flexible is part of keeping them healthy. Encourage foot exercises, which will help reduce the risk of falls and also increase circulation in the feet. Seniors who are mostly sedentary are prone to swollen feet, and moving the feet can reduce that risk.
  • Make sure the shoes fit – Make sure that they are wearing the correct sized shoes so that they don’t have to worry about painful toe conditions like hammertoes, neuromas, or corns and calluses. If they have a foot deformity requiring special shoes, bring them in to get custom orthotics.

Regular checkups with our podiatrist should also be a part of that care. Remember, the feet can often indicate a larger health issue. Make an appointment with our board-certified podiatrist Dr. Brad Toll to help you find treatment for your older loved ones’ foot conditions. Call Crofton Podiatry at (410) 721-4505, which provides services to Crofton, Gambrills, Odenton, and Bowie, MD areas.


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By Crofton Podiatry
January 07, 2019
Category: Children's Feet
Tags: shoes   surgery   orthotic inserts   child   intoeing  

When your baby begins to stand and try to take the very first steps, it feels like such a major accomplishment. Your baby is growing up so quickly and learning so much, it’s hard to keep track. The body is also developing at a rapid pace, and now you’ve got to consider so much more when it comes to physical growth!

Before you know it, your toddler will be an expert walker, soon headed to pre-school. Oh, how the time flies. But wait, is he walking a bit strangely? Maybe he hasn’t outgrown the waddle of a novice walker? He might even seem to be tripping over his own feet. Should you be worried?

Don’t fret just yet. Your child might just be intoeing as he learns to walk. More commonly known as pigeon-toeing, it describes a condition in which his toes point inward, toward each other, rather than straight ahead.

Possible causes of pigeon toes:

  • Congenital: While he was in the womb, he may not have had enough space for his feet to grow. It could have caused his feet to curve inward.
  • Genetics: Pigeon toes can be inherited from the parents.
  • Twisted leg bones: During development in his toddler years, his bones may have grown a bit twisted, causing the feet to turn inward.
  • Turned hip bones: If the hip bones develop abnormally rotated, it can also cause the rest of the leg to turn.

The good news is that with time, the condition usually resolves on its own. For those who seem to have more than a mild case of pigeon toeing, our podiatrist can help.

Treatment options will include:

  • Splinting or casting, if the condition is severe from birth.
  • Stretching and massages to help the foot resolve the problem over time.
  • Orthotic inserts or shoes to help the foot point forward.
  • Surgery, but only if the problem is severe and impedes in the way of life, and does not go away by the time he is 10 years old.

Remember that when it comes to children’s feet, growing pains are not part of growing up. Our podiatrist can guide you through the developmental processes to ease your mind. Make an appointment with our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brad Toll to help you find treatment for your children’s feet. Call Crofton Podiatry at (410) 721-4505 today. We provide services to Crofton, Gambrills, Odenton, and Bowie, MD areas.


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By Crofton Podiatry
January 02, 2019

Did you know that a burning desire to serve your country is not enough to join the military? There are many obstacles that can stop you from joining the military. Good physical and mental health, as well as a high school level of education, are necessary starting points to being able to enlist.

Among the many qualifications needed to join the military are those related to your physical health. You wouldn’t be surprised, then, that your feet need to be in tip-top shape to be able to perform your military duties.

There are many foot conditions that can keep you from serving, including:

  • Unhealed fractures at the time of applying. Even if they will heal soon, you need to be able to perform all functions before you can officially enlist.
  • Implanted orthopedic devices (such as titanium plates) that align bones. If you’ve broken a bone or had orthopedic problems that require a permanent fixture, you are likely unable to enlist.
  • Any joint replacement. This includes the big toe joint, due to arthritis.
  • Any deformity or condition that interferes with walking, marching, running or jumping, OR that interferes with wearing military footwear. These can include toe deformities (like hammertoes), uncorrected clubfoot, and neuromas.
  • Flat feet that need prescription shoes or orthotics. This would mean that you cannot use standard military footwear.
  • Chronic plantar fasciitis. Chronic pain while bearing weight on the feet will disqualify you from military service.
  • Severely ingrown toenails. If they are infected or causing you pain at the time of enlisting, they will disqualify you.
  • Any other injuries or conditions that will prevent them from passing the medical tests.

Some of these issues are treatable, so it’s best to see our podiatrist right away if you are thinking of enlisting. Make an appointment with our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brad Toll to help you find treatment for your foot conditions. Call Crofton Podiatry at (410) 721-4505 today! We provide services to Crofton, Gambrills, Odenton, and Bowie, MD areas.


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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