Blog

Training Your Feet for Better Function

Tuesday, 11 November 2025

Strong, flexible feet are essential for balance and overall mobility. The alphabet exercise involves sitting and tracing the alphabet in the air with your toes to improve ankle flexibility. The towel scrunch is done by placing a towel on the floor and using your toes to pull it toward you to strengthen foot muscles. The toe point involves pointing your toes forward while seated, holding briefly, and relaxing to enhance control. Additionally, the toe stretch is done by gently pulling back on your toes to stretch the arch. A podiatrist can assess foot strength, recommend exercises, and prescribe custom orthotics, if needed. If you have foot pain, it is suggested that you consult a podiatrist who can treat various foot conditions, and recommend additional foot strengthening exercises.

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 Dr. Eugenio Rivera from Calo Foot & Ankle Specialists. Our doctor 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 doctor 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 office located in Bellaire, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Two Types of Broken Toes

Tuesday, 04 November 2025

Having an X-ray performed is a common method of determining if a toe has been broken. When the toe is stubbed or if a heavy object has dropped on it, a traumatic fracture can occur. The symptoms that may accompany this type of broken toe can include consistent pain, bruising, and the affected toe may appear red. A stress fracture can develop gradually, and this generally happens as a result of repeated stress on and surrounding the bone. Runners can develop stress fractures of the toe. If this occurs, it is beneficial to refrain from this type of activity until the healing process is fully completed. An effective method for treating a broken toe is known as buddy taping. This is accomplished by taping the broken toe to the toe next to it to provide adequate stability as the healing process occurs. If you have broken your toe, please speak with a podiatrist who can effectively treat broken toes.

A broken toe can be very painful and lead to complications if not properly fixed. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact Dr. Eugenio Rivera from Calo Foot & Ankle Specialists. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What to Know About a Broken Toe

Although most people try to avoid foot trauma such as banging, stubbing, or dropping heavy objects on their feet, the unfortunate fact is that it is a common occurrence. Given the fact that toes are positioned in front of the feet, they typically sustain the brunt of such trauma. When trauma occurs to a toe, the result can be a painful break (fracture).

Symptoms of a Broken Toe

Throbbing pain
Swelling
Bruising on the skin and toenail
The inability to move the toe
Toe appears crooked or disfigured
Tingling or numbness in the toe

Generally, it is best to stay off of the injured toe with the affected foot elevated.

Severe toe fractures may be treated with a splint, cast, and in some cases, minor surgery. Due to its position and the pressure it endures with daily activity, future complications can occur if the big toe is not properly treated.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Bellaire, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Heel Pain Can Be Treated!

Friday, 31 October 2025

Do you suffer from heel pain when you get up in the morning? If so, you should seek professional help and have a proper diagnosis performed. Heel pain can be caused by several different foot-related conditions.

Gout and the Big Toe

Tuesday, 28 October 2025

Gout is a type of arthritis caused by the buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints, leading to sudden pain and inflammation. Common symptoms include intense pain, swelling, redness, and warmth, often beginning in the big toe. The big toe is frequently affected because it is the coolest part of the body, allowing uric acid crystals to form more easily. Over time, untreated gout can cause persistent arthritis and limit joint movement. A podiatrist can diagnose gout, provide pain relief, and create a treatment plan to prevent flare-ups. If you have pain in your big toe it is suggested that you consult a podiatrist who can diagnose the problem and offer you effective relief and management tips.

Gout is a painful condition that can be treated. If you are seeking treatment, contact Dr. Eugenio Rivera from Calo Foot & Ankle Specialists. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What Is Gout?

Gout is a form of arthritis that is characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, redness, and tenderness in the joints. The condition usually affects the joint at the base of the big toe. A gout attack can occur at any random time, such as the middle of the night while you are asleep.

Symptoms

Intense Joint Pain - Usually around the large joint of your big toe, and it most severe within the first four to twelve hours
Lingering Discomfort - Joint discomfort may last from a few days to a few weeks
Inflammation and Redness -Affected joints may become swollen, tender, warm and red
Limited Range of Motion - May experience a decrease in joint mobility

Risk Factors

Genetics - If family members have gout, you’re more likely to have it
Medications - Diuretic medications can raise uric acid levels
Gender/Age - Gout is more common in men until the age of 60. It is believed that estrogen protects women until that point
Diet - Eating red meat and shellfish increases your risk
Alcohol - Having more than two alcoholic drinks per day increases your risk
Obesity - Obese people are at a higher risk for gout

Prior to visiting your podiatrist to receive treatment for gout, there are a few things you should do beforehand. If you have gout you should write down your symptoms--including when they started and how often you experience them, important medical information you may have, and any questions you may have. Writing down these three things will help your podiatrist in assessing your specific situation so that he or she may provide the best route of treatment for you.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Bellaire, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Common Causes and Locations of Foot Pain

Tuesday, 21 October 2025

Foot pain is a common issue that can affect people of all ages, and the causes can vary. One of the most common causes is plantar fasciitis, which results in pain at the bottom of the heel and arch, often felt during the first steps in the morning. Foot osteoarthritis can cause pain in the joints of the foot, particularly the big toe, leading to stiffness and swelling. Another cause is posterior tibial tendonitis, which affects the inner ankle and can radiate through the arch, leading to pain and difficulty with movement. Additionally, tarsal tunnel syndrome, caused by compression of the tibial nerve, results in pain, tingling, or numbness on the inside of the foot and ankle. If you have any type of foot pain, it is strongly suggested that you promptly contact a podiatrist who can accurately diagnose and treat various foot conditions.

Foot Pain

Foot pain can be extremely painful and debilitating. If you have a foot pain, consult with Dr. Eugenio Rivera from Calo Foot & Ankle Specialists. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Causes

Foot pain is a very broad condition that could be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:

Bunions
Hammertoes
Plantar Fasciitis
Bone Spurs
Corns
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
Ingrown Toenails
Arthritis (such as Gout, Rheumatoid, and Osteoarthritis)
Flat Feet
Injury (from stress fractures, broken toe, foot, ankle, Achilles tendon ruptures, and sprains)
And more

Diagnosis

To figure out the cause of foot pain, podiatrists utilize several different methods. This 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

Treatment depends upon the cause of the foot pain. Whether it is resting, staying off the foot, or having surgery; podiatrists have a number of treatment options available for foot pain.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Bellaire, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Blog

Blog Archives