A tendon is a band of tissue that connects a muscle to a bone. The Achilles tendon – the longest tendon in the body – runs down the back of the lower leg and connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. Also called the “heel cord”, the Achilles tendon facilitates walking by helping to raise the heel off the ground.

Two common disorders that occur in the heel cord are… Read More

A tendon is a band of tissue that connects a muscle to a bone. The Achilles tendon runs down the back of the lower leg and connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. Also called the “heel cord,” the Achilles tendon facilitates walking by helping to raise the heel off the ground.

An Achilles tendon rupture is a complete or partial tear that occurs when… Read More

Inflammation is the body’s normal protective response to an injury, irritation, or surgery. This natural “defense” process brings increased blood flow to the area, resulting in an accumulation of fluid. As the body mounts this protective response, the symptoms of inflammation develop.

These include… Read More

A fracture is a partial or complete break in a bone. In the ankle, fractures can range from the less serious avulsion injuries (small pieces of bone that have been pulled off) to severe shattering-type breaks of the tibia, fibula, or both.

Ankle fractures are common injuries that are most often caused by… Read More

Chronic ankle instability is a condition characterized by a recurring “giving way” of the other (lateral) side of the ankle. This condition often develops after repeated ankle sprains. Usually the “giving way” occurs while walking or doing other activities, but it can also happen when you’re just standing. Many athletes, as well as others, suffer from chronic ankle instability.

People with chronic ankle instability often complain of… Read More

An ankle sprain is an injury to one or more ligaments In the ankle, usually on the outside of the ankle. Ligaments are bands of tissue – like rubber bands – that connect one bone to another and bind the joints together. In the ankle joint, ligaments provide stability by limiting side to side movement.

Some ankle sprains are much worse than others… Read More

Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative arthritis… Read More

The bone healing process has three overlapping stages… Read More

Bunions are often described as a… Read More

The calcaneus, also called the heel bone, is a large bone that forms the foundation of the rear part of the foot. The calcaneus connects with the talus and cuboid bones. The connection between the talus and calcaneus forms the subtalar joint. This joint is important for normal foot function.

The calcaneus is often compared to a… Read More

Cavus foot is a condition in which the foot has a very high arch. Because of this high arch, an excessive amount of weight is placed on the ball and heel of the foot when walking or standing. Cavus foot can lead to a variety of signs and symptoms, such as pain and instability. It can develop at any age, and can occur in one or both feet.

Cavus foot is often caused by a neurologic disorder or other medical condition such as… Read More

Charcot foot is a sudden softening of the bones in the foot that can occur in people who have significant
nerve damage (neuropathy). The bones are weakened enough to fracture, and with continued walking the foot eventually changes shape. As the disorder progresses, the arch collapses and the foot takes on a convex shape, giving it a rocker-bottom appearance, making it very difficult to walk.

Charcot foot is a very serious condition that can lead to… Read More

Fungal problems seen most often are athlete’s foot and fungal nails. A fungus is a common mold that thrives in warm, dark, moist areas. It can grow on and between toes, as well as on soles and toenails. Fungal problems can be a result of environment (socks, shoes, heat, and humidity) or weakened immunity (diseases such as diabetes).

Chronic fungal infections are most common in adults, while acute fungal infections are seen… Read More

Crossover toe is a condition in which the second toe drifts toward the big toe and eventually crosses over and lies on top of the big toe. Crossover toe is a common condition that can occur at any age, although it is most often seen in adults. Some people confuse crossover toe with a hammertoe, probably because both conditions involve a toe that does not lie in the normal position. However, crossover toe is entirely different from a hammertoe—and much more complex.

Although the crossing over of the toe usually occurs over a period of time, it can… Read More

The structure of your foot is complex, consisting of bones, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues. Of the 26 bones in your foot, 19 are toe bones (phalanges) and metatarsal bones (the long bones in the midfoot). Fractures of the toe and metatarsal bones are common and require evaluation by a specialist. A podiatric foot and ankle surgeon should be seen for proper diagnosis and treatment, even if initial treatment has been received in an emergency room.

A fracture is a break in the bone. Fractures can be divided into two categories… Read More

It takes some coordination to get around on crutches. To make sure you use your crutches correctly, please read these instructions and follow them carefully.

Even if you’ve already been fitted for crutches, make sure your crutch pads and handgrips are set at the proper distance, as follows… Read More

The blood supply of the leg is transported by arteries and veins. The arteries carry blood from the heart to the limbs; veins carry blood back to the heart. The leg contains superficial veins, which are close to the surface, and deep veins, which lie much deeper in the leg.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition in which… Read More

People with diabetes are prone to many foot problems, often because of two complications of diabetes: nerve damage (neuropathy) and poor blood circulation.

Neuropathy causes loss of feeling in your feet, taking away your ability to… Read More

Diabetes can be dangerous to your feet – even a small cut could have serious consequences. Diabetes may cause nerve damage that takes away the feeling in your feet. Diabetes may also reduce blood flow to the feet, making it harder to heal an injury or resist infection. Because of these problems, you might not notice a pebble in your shoe – so you could develop a blister, then a sore, then a stubborn infection that might cause amputation of your foot or leg.

To avoid serious foot problems that could result in losing a toe, foot, or leg, be sure to follow these guidelines… Read More

Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage caused by diabetes. When it affects the arms, hands, legs and feet it is known as diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is different from peripheral arterial disease (poor circulation), which affects the blood vessels rather than the nerves.

Three different groups of nerves can be affected by diabetic neuropathy… Read More

Equinus is a condition in which the upward bending motion of the ankle joint is limited. Someone with equinus lacks the flexibility to bring the top of the foot toward the front of the leg. Equinus can occur in one or both feet. When it involves both feet, the limitation of motion is sometimes worse in one foot than in the other.

People with equinus develop ways to “compensate” for their limited ankle motion, and this often leads to… Read More

Fractures (breaks) are common in the fifth metatarsal – the long bone on the outside of the foot that connects to the little toe. Two types of fractures that often occur in the fifth metatarsal are:

• Avulsion fracture. In an avulsion fracture, a small piece of bone is pulled off the main portion of the bone by… Read More

Flatfoot is often a complex disorder, with diverse symptoms and varying degrees of deformity and
disability. There are several types of flatfoot, all of which have one characteristic in common—partial or total collapse (loss) of the arch.

Other characteristics shared by most types of flatfoot include… Read More

A ganglion cyst is a mass of tissue that is filled with a jelly-like fluid. The word “ganglion” means “knot” and is used to describe the knot-like mass or lump of cells that forms below the surface of the skin.

Ganglion cysts are among the most common benign soft-tissue masses… Read More

Gout is a disorder that results from the build-up of uric acid in the tissues or a joint – most often the joint of the big toe.

An attack of gout can be miserable, marked by the following symptoms… Read More

Hammertoe is a contracture – or bending – of one or both joints of the second, third, fourth, or fifth (little) toes. This abnormal bending can put pressure on the toe when wearing shoes, causing problems to develop.

Common symptoms of hammertoe include… Read More

Heel pain is most often caused by plantar fasciitis – a condition that is sometimes also called heel spur syndrome when a spur is present. Heel pain may also be due to other causes, such as stress fracture, tendonitis, arthritis, nerve irritation, or, rarely, a cyst.

Because there are several potential causes, it is important to have heel pain properly diagnosed… Read More

When a toenail is ingrown, the nail is curved downward and grows into the skin, usually at the nail borders (the sides of the nail). This “digging in” of the nail irritates the skin, often creating pain, redness, swelling, and warmth in the toe.

If an ingrown nail causes a break in the skin, bacteria may enter and cause an infection in the area… Read More

Puncture wounds and cuts are not the same. A puncture wound has a small entry hole caused by a pointed object – for example, a nail that you step on. In contrast, a cut is an open wound that doesn’t produce a “hole” but rather a long tear in the skin.Puncture wounds require different treatment from cuts because these small holes in the skin can disguise serious injury.

Puncture wounds are common in the foot, especially in warm weather when… Read More

A neuroma is a thickening of nerve tissue that may develop in various parts of the body.The most common neuroma in the foot is Morton’s neuroma, which occurs at the base of the third and fourth toes. It is sometimes referred to as an intermetataral neuroma. “Intermetatarsal” describes its location – in the ball of the foot between the metatarsal bones (the bones extending from the toes to the midfoot). Neuromas may also occur in other locations in the foot.

The thickening, or enlargement, of the nerve that defines a neuroma is the result of… Read More

Heel pain is most often caused by plantar fasciitis – a condition that is sometimes also called heel spur syndrome when a spur is present. Heel pain may also be due to other causes, such as stress fracture, tendonitis, arthritis, nerve irritation, or, rarely, a cyst.

Because there are several potential causes, it is important to have heel pain properly diagnosed… Read More

Commonly referred to as “poor circulation”, Peripheral Arterial Disease (P.A.D.) is the restriction of blood flow in the arteries of the leg. When arteries become narrowed by plaque (the accumulation of cholesterol and other materials on the walls of the arteries), the oxygen-rich blood flowing through the arteries cannot reach the legs and feet.

The presence of P.A.D. may be an indication of more widespread arterial disease… Read More

Tailor’s bunion, also called a bunionette, is an enlargement of the fifth metatarsal bone at the base of the little toe. The metatarsals are the five long bones of the foot.

The enlargement that characterizes a tailor’s bunion occurs at… Read More

The tarsal tunnel is a narrow space that lies on the inside of the ankle next to the ankle bones. The tunnel is covered with a thick ligament (the flexor retinaculum) that protects and maintains the structures contained within the tunnel—arteries, veins, tendons, and nerves. One of these structures is the posterior tibial nerve, which is the focus of tarsal tunnel syndrome.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome is a compression, or squeezing, on the posterior tibial nerve that produces… Read More

The structure of your foot is complex, consisting of bones, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues. Of the 26 bones in your foot, 19 are toe bones (phalanges) and metatarsal bones (the long bones in the midfoot).

Fractures of the toe and metatarsal bones are… Read More

A wart is s small growth on the skin that develops when the skin is infected by a virus. Warts can develop anywhere on the foot, but typically they appear on the bottom (plantar side) of the foot.

Plantar warts most commonly occur in children, adolescents, and the elderly… Read More