Mercer-Ocean Podiatry, PC

It’s a big problem when any of your joints become less flexible, but that’s especially true of the MTP, or big toe joint. MTP is short for metatarsophalangeal, which means the MTP joint connects the big toe to the rest of the foot, and “hallux rigidus” is the term used to describe a stiff big toe. When we walk, we push off the ground with the balls of our feet and rise onto our toes, making it crucial for the big toe joint to be flexible. If yours has been swelling, you should schedule an appointment with Mercer-Ocean Podiatry in northern New Jersey immediately. The MTP joint depends on its cartilage to move smoothly. That cartilage may be worn away through overuse, or it may deteriorate in response to rheumatoid arthritis or gout. Not everybody develops hallux rigidus, but people are at greater risk if their feet roll inward when they walk or their shoes don’t provide sufficient room for their toes to bend. If hallux rigidus is allowed to progress, the toe may develop a bone spur tha...

Brachymetatarsia is a highly congenital foot condition when your five metatarsal bones (“toe bones”) are shorter than normal, resulting in the toes pulled back or overlapping the others. We at Mercer-Ocean Podiatry, PC in New Jersey understand that this condition causes discomfort. Your experienced podiatrists, Drs. Killian and Chandrani, will you get started on a regimen to manage discomfort associated with brachymetatarsia. If you suffer from brachymetatarsia, you know that it’s difficult to properly balance or smoothly transfer weight across your toes when you walk or run. To correct this problem, extra padding is used in the shoe to protect the short toe from excessive friction and pressure. Orthotics are used to properly distribute the weight across the foot while in motion. In some cases, a surgical graft of bone to lengthen the short toe may be necessary.  Drs. Killian and Chandrani will help you find the right treatment option based on your unique situation. Call our office tod...

With the fall sports season underway, now is a good time to pay attention to the dangers of turf toe. We help people with a lot of foot problems at Mercer-Ocean Podiatry, and sprains to the big toe usually respond well to treatment. But people need to know to take turf toe seriously or else their recovery may be delayed and compromised. “Turf toe” gets its name from the astroturf fields where big toe sprains commonly occur. The metatarsophalangeal joint that connects the big toe to the foot links to a complex network of ligaments and sesamoid bones that prevent the toe from moving too far sideways and allow it to curl and lift. When the toe is hyperextended, as can happen when the toes are supporting the weight of the whole body, the ligaments may tear or fray. Hyperextension is likelier to happen on surfaces that have less give. Whenever a person suspects they have a sprain, they should rest, ice, compress, and elevate (RICE) the foot. We’ll conduct a thorough movement and imaging tes...