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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
August 08, 2018
Category: Foot health
Tags: swelling   Athlete's Foot   Gout   Orthotics   Diabetes   surgery   pain   arthritis   injury   psoriasis   fungal   ingrown   cracked heels  

There are some obvious times to visit a foot doctor:

  1. Foot injury – A podiatrist can help you find the best way to take care of foot injuries, with anything from orthotics to surgery.
  2. Ankle injury – Yep! Podiatrists also take care of ankle issues.
  3. Foot and ankle pain – If you suddenly notice pain or have ongoing pain that doesn’t seem to get better with time or at-home treatment, our podiatry team will help you figure out what’s going on.podiatrist

Beyond the more obvious reasons for visiting a podiatrist, some other very important times to call our office for foot health care are:

  1. Annual foot examinations – Some foot and ankle issues can arise with subtle symptoms. Catching a problem early can allow for a simpler intervention. Additionally, since a foot doctor is a fully-licensed medical professional, they can help diagnose other problems that may present symptoms affecting the feet. In fact, some patients learn about their diabetes after coming for a foot problem checkup.
  2. Conditions or diseases like arthritis, gout, or diabetes – Speaking of diabetes, folks with certain diseases can develop side effects that affect the feet. A podiatrist can help you manage symptoms like pain or numbness.
  3. Swelling or numbness – If you have swelling or numbness that is unexplained or persists for a long time, come in to check for underlying conditions.
  4. New deformities or changes in skin – Sometimes changes in the feet go unnoticed compared to changes in other parts of the body. That’s why it’s important to check the feet often for any changes that might need treatment. Additionally, severely dry, cracked heels, as well as other conditions like Athlete’s foot or psoriasis may require podiatrist help for treatment.
  5. Ingrown or fungal toenails – Most times, moderate to severe cases of ingrown or fungal toenails requires the attention of a podiatrist. Trying to treat these toenail conditions at home may be fruitless or even more harmful (e.g. trying to pry out ingrown toenails can lead to infection).

As you can see, there are many reasons why you might want to make an appointment at our Crofton, MD office to see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brad Toll. At Crofton Podiatry, we will use the latest treatment options to assess and take care of your foot and ankle care needs. Please contact us and visit our podiatry team at our Crofton, MD office, which also serves the surrounding areas of Gambrills, Odenton, and Bowie, MD.

 

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By Crofton Podiatry
June 20, 2018
Category: Foot Care Tips
Tags: Hammertoes   stiffness   yoga   pedicure   ingrown   ankles  

Now that it’s time for the toes to come out and play (in open-toed shoes), you may be thinking more about how they look. Do they need some toenail trimming? Thinking about how to best groom those toe hairs? Maybe you’re considering a pedicure?

You may also be wondering if your toes always looked like that. Are some of them looking a bit crooked or bent up more than you remember? Is a toenail becoming ingrown? After the cold season, your toes may need some extra love.

To start, if you notice any toe or feet problems, inspect them to see if there is any redness, pain, or inflammation. If you need some treatment, make an appointment with us at Crofton Podiatry so that you can find safe and effective remedies.

At home, we encourage you to try doing toe exercises, especially if you notice that your toes are becoming deformed. For example, if you begin to develop hammertoes, where your toes form an upside-down “V” shape, you may be able to counteract them from getting worse by doing some toe exercises. If you have stiffness in the big toe, you may also benefit from doing some toe exercises.

Try some of the following at home or at work when you have free moments:

  • Curl and spread your toes, holding at each position for a few seconds. This may feel weird the first few times you do it since you haven’t been using your toes in this way. Do at least 10 repetitions, for 3 sets.
  • Grab marbles or a small towel with your toes. Move it from left to right, release, and then pick it up again and move it back. Do this at least 10 times, with each foot.
  • Get up onto your tippy toes while sitting or standing. You can get the full benefit if you stand, but you can still get in a good stretch if you do this while sitting.
  • Write out letters with your big toes. Use your big toes and write out the alphabet in the air. Your ankles will benefit from this exercise too!
  • Stand in mountain and tree pose with your toes spread out. These yoga poses will help strengthen your toes while you learn to balance with your toes.

If you are worried about toe deformities, corns, calluses, or pain in the big toe, come to see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brad Toll, at Crofton Podiatry. He can provide you with details to the proper exercises you should do for your toe issues. Call us today at (410) 721-4505 to make an appointment at our Crofton, MD office, which also serves the surrounding 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