Items filtered by date: January 2025

Toe exercises, such as toe raises, toe curls, and toe splaying, offer numerous benefits for foot and ankle health. These toe exercises work the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the toes and lower legs, helping to strengthen and stabilize the feet. Regularly performing toe exercises can improve flexibility, enhance range of motion, and promote better balance, which makes daily activities like walking or running more comfortable and safe. Toe curls can build strength in the arch and improve foot control, while toe splaying enhances flexibility and helps reduce stiffness. These exercises also play a role in alleviating foot pain by supporting joint health and reducing strain on the plantar fascia and other connective tissues. A podiatrist can assess your foot structure and recommend a personalized regimen of toe exercises to address pain, improve function, or prevent injuries. If you have toe pain, it is suggested that you schedle an appointment with a podiatrist for an exam and treatment.

Toe pain can disrupt your daily activities. If you have any concerns, contact James Torhorst, DPM of Torhorst Foot and Ankle. Our doctor 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 Waupaca and Stevens Point, WI . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.