Breaking any bone in the body is nothing to take lightly. When you break a bone in the toes of your feet you should take it just as seriously as any other broken bone. A broken toe, also known as a fractured toe, occurs when one or more bones in a toe become fractured. If you have a broken toe, you may experience a variety of symptoms. You could feel pain in the toes or feet, a swelling sensation, or a feeling of stiffness. You might also notice bruising around the affected area. It can be important for you to become familiar with the different causes of broken toes to try to prevent toe fractures from occurring in the future. First, broken toes can be caused by direct injuries to the toes. Commonly, this could include dropping a heavy object onto your toe or you might manage to forcefully stub your toe into a hard surface. Second, you might experience a broken toe from performing repetitive motions over a prolonged period. This can result in a stress fracture which is commonly developed by playing certain sports. No matter the cause, broken toes should be taken seriously. Reach out to a podiatrist if you suspect a fractured toe. The podiatrist will be able to help you identify and address the problem.

Broken toes may cause a lot of pain and should be treated as soon as possible. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact one of our podiatrists from Lexington Foot and Ankle Center, PSC. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What Is a Broken Toe?

A broken toe occurs when one or more of the toe bones of the foot are broken after an injury. Injuries such as stubbing your toe or dropping a heavy object on it may cause a toe fracture.

Symptoms of a Broken Toe

• Swelling
• Pain (with/without wearing shoes)
• Stiffness
• Nail Injury

Although the injured toe should be monitored daily, it is especially important to have a podiatrist look at your toe if you have severe symptoms. Some of these symptoms include worsening or new pain that is not relieved with medication, sores, redness, or open wounds near the toe.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Harrodsburg, Frankfort, Georgetown, and Lexington, KY . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

If you care for your children’s feet as they grow, this can help protect them from having problems with their feet as adults. Practicing a regular routine when it comes to caring for children’s feet is similar to what is recommended for adults. Wash your child’s feet every day, dry them carefully, and apply a bit of baby powder to keep them healthy. Buy them shoes that fit right – whether they are at the soft or hard shoe stage. Make sure that the shoes have enough room in the foot box for the toes to grow. Use socks made of cotton or wool and that fit properly without pinching your child’s feet. Cut their toenails in a straight line so that they do not develop ingrown toenails. Allow your children to go barefoot around the house so that their feet will develop and gain strength without being restricted. If questions or problems arise related to your children’s feet, consult with a podiatrist, an expert in this area.

Making sure that your children maintain good foot health is very important as they grow. If you have any questions, contact one of our podiatrists of Lexington Foot and Ankle Center, PSC. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Keeping Children's Feet Healthy

Having healthy feet during childhood can help prevent medical problems later in life, namely in the back and legs. As children grow, their feet require different types of care. Here are some things to consider...

Although babies do not walk yet, it is still very important to take care of their feet.

Avoid putting tight shoes or socks on his or her feet.

Allow the baby to stretch and kick his or her feet to feel comfortable.

As a toddler, kids are now on the move and begin to develop differently. At this age, toddlers are getting a feel for walking, so don’t be alarmed if your toddler is unsteady or ‘walks funny’. 

As your child gets older, it is important to teach them how to take care of their feet.

Show them proper hygiene to prevent infections such as fungus.

Be watchful for any pain or injury.

Have all injuries checked by a doctor as soon as possible.

Comfortable, protective shoes should always be worn, especially at play.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Harrodsburg, Frankfort, Georgetown, and Lexington, KY . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

A common form of ankle pain is called posterior tibial tendonitis. This tendon helps to stabilize the foot and is approximately the thickness of a pencil. It contributes to supporting the foot and maintaining the arch. The common symptoms that are associated with this condition are sharp pains along the inner part of the ankle, stiffness, and the ankle can be sore when touched. People who enjoy running may realize it is almost impossible to pursue, and care is often sought so running can be resumed. Research has shown there are four stages of this type of ankle pain. Tendon damage and inflammation are typical in stage one, and the foot retains its normal shape. In stage two, the arch can flatten, and heel raises will be difficult to perform. The tendon can partially or fully rupture in stages three and four, and this may lead to permanent deformities in the foot and ankle. The recovery process can start with possibly using orthotics in the beginning stages, and stages three and four may require surgery. If you have endured this type of injury, it is strongly suggested that you are under the care of a podiatrist who can effectively treat this condition. 

Ankle pain can have many different causes and the pain may potentially be serious. If you have ankle pain, consult with one of our podiatrists from Lexington Foot and Ankle Center, PSC. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Ankle pain is any condition that causes pain in the ankle. Due to the fact that the ankle consists of tendons, muscles, bones, and ligaments, ankle pain can come from a number of different conditions.

Causes

The most common causes of ankle pain include:

• Types of arthritis (rheumatoid, osteoarthritis, and gout)
• Ankle sprains
• Broken ankles
• Achilles tendinitis
• Achilles tendon rupture
• Stress fractures
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome
• Plantar fasciitis

Symptoms

Symptoms of ankle injury vary based upon the condition. Pain may include general pain and discomfort, swelling, aching, redness, bruising, burning or stabbing sensations, and/or loss of sensation.

Diagnosis

Due to the wide variety of potential causes of ankle pain, podiatrists will utilize a number of different methods to properly diagnose ankle pain. This can include asking for personal and family medical histories and of any recent injuries. Further diagnosis may include sensation tests, a physical examination, and potentially x-rays or other imaging tests.

Treatment

Just as the range of causes varies widely, so do treatments. Some more common treatments are rest, ice packs, keeping pressure off the foot, orthotics and braces, medication for inflammation and pain, and surgery.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Harrodsburg, Frankfort, Georgetown, and Lexington, KY . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

An underlying medical condition may cause pain in the big toe. These can consist of arthritis, gout, or an injury that is the result of a fracture. A bunion may cause big toe pain and is generally felt on the bottom of the toe. Additionally, a source of toe pain can come from an ingrown toenail and this may cause difficulty in walking. Intense pain in the toe can be a result of gout, which can develop from excess uric acid in the blood. Crystals can form in the joints of the big toe and this often causes severe pain and discomfort. People who frequently participate in sporting activities may experience turf toe. This comes from being involved in repetitive activities and can cause the big toe to bend in an abnormal position. The sesamoid bones are found inside the muscles and are connected to tendons. Sesamoiditis can develop from inflamed tendons under the big toe as a result of repetitive use. If you have toe pain, please seek the counsel of a podiatrist who can accurately confirm its source, and provide effective treatment methods.

Toe pain can disrupt your daily activities. If you have any concerns, contact one of our podiatrists of Lexington Foot and Ankle Center, PSC. Our doctors 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 Harrodsburg, Frankfort, Georgetown, and Lexington, KY . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

The feet carry the weight of the body, and provide the foundation for positive physical and mental health. If the feet are weak, and range of motion is limited, the joints and muscles in the foot may compensate. This can result in foot pain. This can cause an increased risk in falling, and it is helpful for several reasons to maintain foot strength. Additionally, the ankles may work harder than they should to keep the body moving. An effective foot stretch is called the “folded blanket walk.” This is done by placing a blanket on the floor, and beginning to walk on it. This can be beneficial in promoting balance and flexibility. Additionally, a popular foot stretch consists of rolling the sole of the foot from the top to the bottom on a tennis ball while sitting in a chair. This is beneficial in keeping the arch of the foot strong. Toe lifts are done to strengthen the toes, and they are practiced by sitting in a chair, and lifting each toe individually. There are many different types of foot exercises that can be done daily, and if you would like more information about the benefits and how to perform them, please consult 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 one of our podiatrists from Lexington Foot and Ankle Center, PSC. Our doctors 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 doctors 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 offices located in Harrodsburg, Frankfort, Georgetown, and Lexington, KY . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.