Foot Conditions

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:
Intense pain that comes on suddenly—often in the middle of the night or upon arising
Redness, swelling, and warmth over the joint—all of which are signs of inflammation

The tarsometatarsal joint or Lisfranc joint is the region in the middle of the foot formed by the articulation of the tarsal bones (a cluster of seven bones) and metatarsal bones (a group of five long bones). This region supports the arch of the foot. Lisfranc or midfoot fractures are breaks in the bones of the midfoot. They also involve torn ligaments that support the midfoot.

Cavus foot also referred to as a high arch, is a condition in which the arch on the bottom of the foot that runs from the toes to the heel is arched more than normal. Because of this, excessive weight falls on the ball and heel of the foot when walking or standing, causing pain and instability. Children with neurological disorders or other conditions such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, poliomyelitis, and muscular dystrophy are more likely to develop Cavus foot.

Arthritis is inflammation in the joint resulting from the degeneration of cartilage causing joint pain, swelling, and stiffness resulting in restricted movements. Arthritis of the foot and ankle joint can occur due to fractures, dislocation, inflammatory disease, or congenital deformity.

Midfoot arthritis is pain and inflammation of the midfoot. It occurs due to damage of cartilage or tissues around the joints. The damage may occur due to injury, aging or autoimmunity. The foot bones are the phalanges, the metaphalanges, and the tarsal bones. The midfoot consists of 5 bones called lesser tarsal bones.

The foot is a highly complex part of the human body that has an integral role in most activities of daily living. It consists of 26 bones connected with joints, ligaments, and tendons. It is susceptible to injury due to significant stress caused by supporting the weight of the entire body when walking or running.

Foot and Ankle conditions typically occur due to injury of the muscles, ligaments or bones, due to aging, or certain disorders including gout, bunion, arthritis, claw toes, bursitis, hammertoes, stress fracture, etc. Examination of the foot and ankle is necessary for an accurate diagnosis of injury or disorder.

Foot injections are steroids that are injected into your foot to relieve pain and inflammation. Cortisol is a hormone that is produced in the human body and functions to reduce stress and inflammation. Steroids are synthetic drugs that resemble cortisol and are used in treating joint pain.

Charcot foot deformity, also known as Charcot arthropathy, is a condition characterized by weakness and inflammation of the bones, joints, and tissues of the foot. If not treated appropriately, it can lead to joint collapse and loss of mobility. Charcot foot deformity is caused by nerve damage that results in loss of sensation in the foot.

Pediatric foot conditions refer to a wide range of foot disorders that may affect the muscles, tendons, and bones of the foot causing significant foot deformity and functional limitations. Treatment of foot conditions in children can differ significantly from that required in adults.

Inflammation of the Achilles tendon is known as Achilles tendinitis or tendonitis. The Achilles tendon is a tough band of fibrous tissue that runs down the back of your lower leg and connects your calf muscle to your heel bone. The tendon is used when you walk, climb, jump, run and stand on your tip toes.

Foot inflammation is the result of a person’s immune response towards various irritants or injuries to the foot. Based on the type of response, the inflammation can be classified as acute when it occurs suddenly, or chronic, occurring gradually as a result of a long-term disorder.

Trauma and repeated stress can cause fractures in the foot. Extreme force is required to fracture the bones in the hindfoot. The most common type of foot fracture is a stress fracture that occurs when repeated activities produce small cracks in the bones. Foot fractures commonly occur because of a fall, motor vehicle accident, dropping a heavy object on your foot or from overuse such as with sports.

Foot and ankle trauma refers to injuries that most commonly occur during sports, exercise or any other physical activity. Trauma may be a result of accidents, poor training practices or use of improper gear. Injuries may also be caused when an individual is not medically fit or because of insufficient warm-up and stretching exercises.

Arthritis is the inflammation of joints as a result of degeneration of the smooth cartilage that lines the ends of bones in a joint. This degeneration of the cartilages leads to painful rubbing of the bones, swelling, and stiffness in the joints, resulting in restricted movements. Arthritis in the foot and ankle can occur due to fractures, dislocation, inflammatory disease, or congenital deformity.

A bunion, also known as hallux valgus, is a bony protuberance that appears on the outer surface of the big toe when it angles toward the adjacent toe. It is an extra bone and a fluid-filled sac that grows at the base of the big toe. Bunions are common in women and tend to run in families (heredity).

Athlete's foot, also known as tinea pedis, is a fungal infection that forms on the skin of the foot. It is characterized by itchy, moist, white, scaly lesions between the toes that can spread to the sole of the foot. Athlete’s foot is contagious and spreads through contact with infected skin scales or fungi in moist areas such as swimming pools and bathrooms, or from sharing shoes of an infected person or having contact with pets carrying the fungi.

Forefoot pain, also referred to as metatarsalgia, is a type of pain that occurs in the ball of the foot (along the ends of the metatarsal bones). Generally, forefoot pain is associated with aging. Individuals with metatarsalgia experience pain of varied intensities and discomfort and find it difficult to perform activities such as walking, running and playing.

The Lisfranc joint or tarsometatarsal joint refers to the region in the middle of the foot. It is a junction between the tarsal bones (bones in the foot arch) and metatarsal bones (five long bones in the foot). Lisfranc fractures can occur due to a fall from a height or a traumatic motor vehicle accident.

The foot is composed of bones, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. As your feet bear the weight of your entire body, they are more prone to injury and pain. Foot pain occurs from distress induced by certain factors on the foot. It is a common problem experienced by young athletes involved in various activities such as running and jumping.

Flatfoot, also known as “fallen arches” or Pes planus, is a deformity in children’s feet where the arch that runs along the sole of the foot collapses to the ground or is not formed at all. Flatfoot is normal in the first few years of life as the arch of the foot usually develops between the age of 3 and 5 years.

The Achilles tendon is a strong fibrous cord present behind the ankle that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. It is used when you walk, run and jump. The Achilles tendon ruptures most often in athletes participating in sports that involve running, pivoting and jumping. Recreational sports that may cause Achilles rupture include tennis, football, basketball, and gymnastics.

Foot cancer is a condition characterized by the formation of lesions, cysts, or outgrowths in the feet due to the uncontrolled multiplication of cells. There are many types of foot cancer; some are localized while others are widespread. Cancers of the foot and ankle are very rare and can be difficult to diagnose. Podiatrists are best qualified to accurately diagnose the condition.

Foot infections may occur after trauma to the foot or loss of tissue because of contamination from foreign material and/or bacteria or fungus. Infections can occur in healthy individuals as well as in those whose health is compromised.

Foot drop, also known as drop foot, is a sign of an underlying muscular, neurological or anatomical condition, where you are unable to lift the front part of your foot, which results in the dragging of the foot. To avoid dragging your foot, you may lift your knee higher than usual as if you were climbing stairs or swing your leg in a wide arc, causing you to slap your foot on the ground every time you step forward.

The foot is composed of bones, ligaments, nerves, muscles, and tendons. Nerve conditions of the foot can range from minor nerve injuries to serious conditions like nerve entrapment and damage. A podiatrist is a doctor specializing in the treatment of foot problems including nerve conditions.

Foot spasms, also known as foot cramps, occur due to the involuntary contraction of the foot muscles. These cramps are usually harmless and will get better on their own; however, sometimes they may need medical attention. Based on the intensity of the spasm, the sensation can vary from a tiny prick to an extremely painful condition.

A pediatric fracture of the foot and ankle is defined as a break in the bones of the foot and ankle in children. The foot and ankle comprise a complex joint involved in movement that provides stability and balance to the body. Together, the foot and ankle consist of 26 bones, 33 joints, and various muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

The feet can develop rashes and itching due to moist conditions, infectious bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi, or other irritants. Irritants may be present in our surroundings and walking barefoot can sometimes lead to a rash or itchy feet. The foot can also develop itchiness when the skin is excessively dry. Foot rashes and itchiness are usually not a cause for concern but can sometimes indicate an underlying condition.

The forefoot is the anterior or front portion of the foot that functions in weight-bearing and maintaining balance while standing, walking or running. It is formed by 5 metatarsal bones, 14 phalange bones, and various soft tissues. A forefoot fracture is a crack or breaks in any of these bones. In some cases, the broken bone can protrude through the skin. These are called open fractures.

Clubfoot is a common pediatric foot deformity. The feet twist inward and downward at the ankles in such a way that the ankle or side of the foot meets the ground while walking instead of the sole of the foot. It is twice as common in males as in females. The leg and foot may be smaller and calves less developed than normal.

Kohler disease is a rare bone disorder in children characterized by pain and swelling along the arch of one or both feet. It is commonly seen between the ages of 5 and 7, with boys 4-5 times more likely to be affected. It is usually a self-limiting condition.

A foot lesion is an abnormal change in an area of skin on the foot. It may be caused by infection, injury or abnormal growth of tissue. Foot lesions are commonly seen in diabetic patients due to nerve damage and poor circulation. There are different types of foot lesions and they can be broadly classified as benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

Plantar fascia release is a surgical procedure to treat moderate to severe plantar fasciitis, in which your surgeon releases or removes the diseased section of the plantar fascia tissue to relieve pain and inflammation in the foot. Plantar fasciitis is a condition where the plantar fascia becomes inflamed from overstretching or overuse, causing pain in the heel and bottom of the foot.

A navicular stress fracture is described as a small crack in the navicular bone (a boat-shaped bone located at the top of the middle part of the foot), which occurs from too much stress being placed on the bone from repetitive activities. Your doctor will review your symptoms, and medical history and perform a thorough physical examination to check for swelling or bruising restricted range of motion, or tenderness.

Freiberg’s disease, also known as Freiberg infraction, is a condition characterized by avascular necrosis (death of bone tissue due to lack of blood supply) mostly in the second or third metatarsal bones located at the base of the second and third toes of the feet. This condition is most commonly seen in adolescent girls.

A plantar fibroma is a benign fibrous lump that may develop in the plantar fascia, the tissue under the foot that extends across the arch. It can develop in one or both feet. The initial symptom of a plantar fibroma is a noticeable lump in the arch of the foot. The size of the lump may increase over time.