Hallux rigidus is a form of degenerative arthritis that affects the big toe and one that we at Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center would rather treat in its earlier stages rather than its later ones. What starts out as stiffness in the toe joint will eventually progress to pain, decreased the range of motion and even a frozen big toe joint as the cartilage continues to deteriorate. Being unable to bend your big toe affects all motions that involve pushing off with the toe. These include essential activities like walking, running, squatting down and climbing stairs. At some point even standing and putting any weight on the toe at all can be extremely painful. In addition, hallux rigidus can lead to the development of other conditions such as bunions, bone spurs and calluses.

Who’s at Risk?

There are a number of factors that can increase your risk of developing hallux rigidus and not all of them are within your control. Structural abnormalities and faulty foot mechanics are often to blame for this disorder and those can be inherited or the result of another condition like flat feet or excessive pronation of the ankles which can cause stress to the toe joint. Hallux rigidus, like other forms of arthritis, may develop in a joint that was previously injured. It can also be the result of overuse of a sport that requires pushing off with the toe or a job where you are frequently squatting or doing other activities that bend the toe.

What Can be Done?

If after assessing the state of your big toe joint through examination and x-rays our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria Foley and Dr. Constance Ornelas diagnose hallux rigidus (or hallux limitus—the same condition at an earlier stage) the next step will be determining the correct treatment plan for you.

The foot doctor may recommend rest, icing and over the counter anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen to bring relief of symptoms. Cortisone injections, changes in shoe choice, custom orthotics and physical therapies are all options that can help increase the range of motion and slow the progression of arthritis. In cases that are too far progressed or where there are additional complications, surgery may be the best option,

To learn more, contact our Long Beach office by calling: 562-420-9800.

At Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center we find that most children’s podiatric issues result either from poor hygiene habits or overuse injuries related to sports activities. One of the difficulties in diagnosing and treating children is that they are not always able to articulate their symptoms or even identify the source of discomfort. Look for these indicators that your child may be experiencing foot or ankle pain:

• Limping or walking or running in an abnormal way.
• Not wanting to participate in sports or other active pursuits that they normally enjoy.
• Complaints of tiredness.
• An increased frequency of trips and falls.

If your child is showing any of these signs inspect their feet completely (but gently—the cause of the pain may be internal). If you notice anything unusual or you don’t see anything but it’s clear that something is wrong with your child’s feet, make an appointment at our Long Beach office so that one of our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria Foley or Dr. Constance Omelas can do a complete podiatric exam.

Practice Safe Sports

You can help prevent injuries and conditions caused by overuse by ensuring that your child has the correct shoes for the sport they are doing and that the shoes fit properly. When children are young it’s likely that they will need a new pair of shoes each season. Have your child’s feet professionally measured and don’t let them wear hand me down sports shoes. Be sure that children warm up and stretch before practices and games and that the conditioning program they are doing allows days of rest between workouts. Heel pain from plantar fasciitis or Sever’s Disease and Achilles tendonitis are some foot conditions that can be caused by too much repetitive activity from a sport or exercise program.

Teach Your Child Healthy Foot Habits

Plantar warts, athlete’s foot, fungal toenails and ingrown nails are also conditions that children commonly experience. These can be avoided if your child follows some simple rules:

• Let mom or dad trim nails appropriately—don’t peel nails or pull them off.
• Wear shower shoes or flip-flops at the town pool and when in gym locker rooms—fungal and bacterial infections are spread by direct contact.
• Don’t share shoes, socks, towels, nail files or any other items that touch someone else’s foot.

If you have questions about your children’s feet, contact us by calling: 562-420-9800.

At Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center we often find that patients have no trouble identifying a hammertoe—its telltale downward bent at the joint makes it fairly obvious—but often that’s where the knowledge stops. Too often patients suffer for a long time with a hammertoe because they do not fully understand the condition and their treatment options. Below some common myths about hammertoes are dispelled to help patients be more informed about this condition:

MYTH: Hammertoes are caused by shoes that are too tight.

TRUTH: It’s true that improperly fitting shoes can contribute to or exacerbate the condition of hammertoe but usually a muscle/tendon imbalance predisposes the toe to bend downward. In some cases, one toe is longer than the others and pushes up against the front of the shoe. Hammertoe can also be genetic, the result of arthritis or a neurological or structural issue.

MYTH: It’s possible that over time hammertoes will get better without treatment.

TRUTH: Hammertoes are a progressive condition. Although they may progress at varying rates they will not improve and will, in fact, worsen to the point of being disabling if not treated. It’s important to have one of our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria Foley and Dr. Constance Omelas examine your hammertoe to assess how far it has progressed. The foot doctor may order x-rays to get a better look at the current state of the joint and will also want to get a complete medical history. Hammertoes should be monitored by the podiatrist.

MYTH: There’s no real treatment for hammertoes.

TRUTH: Actually there are several conservative options available to the foot doctor to help decrease pain, increase comfort and slow the progression of a hammertoe. These include: strapping or taping the toe to establish realignment, using a custom orthotic device to correct or compensate for a muscle tendon imbalance and doing stretching and other exercises to increase flexibility and strengthen supporting muscles. In addition, patients should choose shoes with low heels that have roomy toe boxes and are made of soft materials to avoid further stress to the toe and irritations such as corns, calluses, and ulcers from developing. If none of these treatments are successful or there are other deformities such as bunions in addition to the hammertoe the foot doctor may recommend surgery to correct the problem.

You have options so don’t suffer needlessly. If you have a hammertoe contact us for an appointment at our Long Beach office today by calling: 562-420-9800.

As we age there are parts of the body that begin to experience “wear and tear” resulting in an increase in certain health problems. Your feet are no exception. At Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center, however, we believe that our senior patients can live active lives if they are proactive in the care of their feet and know how to prevent common foot problems. Below are some areas of concern for seniors:

Fall Danger – falls are a primary cause of injury in older patients and your feet obviously play a big role in keeping you upright. Observe the following precautions:

• Wear shoes that fit properly and are not worn out. Stretched out shoes or those with rips in them can cause you to trip more easily. Shoes that are too big or too small can alter the way you walk and also lead to a fall. Get your foot professionally measured at the shoe store because your size can change as you age.
• Fall-proof your home. Remove clutter, throw rugs and low plant stands, magazine racks, and other tripping hazards. Be sure there is adequate lighting inside and outside your home. Install handrails on both sides of all stairs.
• Get foot pain treated promptly. When your foot or ankle hurts you try to walk in a way that reduces the pain. This will throw off your balance and increase your risk of falling. Let our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria Foley and Dr. Constance Omelas, evaluate your feet and prescribe the correct treatment to protect the health of your feet.

Circulation – maintaining good circulation is necessary for keeping your feet healthy and also for healing any injuries to the lower extremities. Don’t smoke as this impedes circulation and exercise regularly. Keep the blood flowing! Do not sit or stand in one position for a long period of time.

Healthy Lifestyle – in addition to exercise, watch what you eat. Choose a nutrient-dense diet that will keep bones strong, help you have maximum energy and maintain an appropriate weight. Being overweight increases the risk of foot and other health issues. Keep up with all your medical checkups and listen to your body. Many foot ailments have early warning signs that can signal the need for attention.

If you have additional questions about senior foot healthcare contact our Long Beach office at (562) 420-9800.