At some time in your life you most likely will experience foot, heel, or ankle pain. This is natural since we ambulate over one million steps per year. Luckily, over 95% of all foot, heel and ankle pain will heal itself over time. The ankle is a complex mechanism. What we normally think of as the ankle is actually made up of two joints: the subtalar joint and the true ankle joint. The true ankle joint is composed of 3 bones: the tibia which forms the inside portion of the ankle; the fibula which forms the outside portion of the ankle; and the talus underneath. The true ankle joint is responsible for up and down motion of the foot. Beneath the true ankle joint is the second part of the ankle, the subtalar joint, which consists of the talus on top and calcaneus on the bottom. The subtalar joint allows side-to-side motion of the foot. The major ligaments of the ankle are 1) the anterior tibiofibular ligament, which connects the tibia to the fibula and is the most common ligament torn in ankle sprains, 2) the lateral collateral ligament, which attach the fibula to the calcaneus and gives the ankle lateral stability, and, on the medial side of the ankle, 3) the deltoid ligaments, which connect the tibia to the talus and calcaneus and provide medial stability, and 4) the syndesmotic ligament, which connects the tibia to the fibula and is frequently torn in high ankle sprains. These components of your ankle, along with the muscles and tendons of your lower leg, work together to handle the stress your ankle receives as you walk, run and jump.
COMMON FOOT PROBLEMS
Heel Pain is a very common complaint, otherwise known as plantar faciitis. This is irritation of the connective tissue of the arch of the foot. It usually begins without an injury and is frequently worse in the morning, classically with the first step out of bed in the morning.
Bunions are painful enlargements of the joint of the big toe. This enlargement can be quite painful and debilitating. Bunions frequently are caused by poorly fitting shoes, but they can also be inherited as a family trait.
Morton's neuroma is a pinched nerve between the toes. This pinching causes pain that can radiate to the toes. This pain is frequently aggravated by wearing tight shoes.
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