Central Kansas Podiatry Associates Can Help With These Foot and Ankle Problems
When you stop and think about it, feet are fascinating. Each foot has approximately 100 muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as 33 joints, 26 bones, and a vast network of blood vessels and nerves. Dr. Weaver and our team strive to help you ensure good foot health with progressive education, treatment solutions, and daily foot care advice. Here’s what you should know about different foot and ankle problems and their causes.
Common Reasons For Foot and Ankle Health Issues
No matter how well we treat our feet, any number of issues can happen. Our patients often experience trouble due to:
- Abnormal tissue growths
- Bacterial, viral, or fungal infections
- Chronic and degenerative diseases
- Congenital defects and heredity
- Improper footwear
- Injuries and wounds
- Slight mechanical changes
Different Foot and Ankle Problems
The more you understand these common conditions, the easier it is to spot an issue and arrange for a thorough examination.
Bunions
A bunion is a big toe joint deformity resulting from bone misalignment or repositioning at the joint. Although bunions occur most frequently at the base of the big toe, they can also develop on the outside of the foot at the base of the small toe.
Fractures
Bones are susceptible to two kinds of breaks: stress and general.
- Stress fractures are small fissures or cracks in the surface of the bone and usually occur in the forefoot, or the area from the mid-foot extending to the toes.
- General fractures travel into the bone beyond its surface and can be stable or displaced, as well as closed or open.
Stress fractures can become general fractures if not properly treated.
Hammer Toe
Hammer toe occurs when the second, third, or fourth toe bends at the middle joint, often as a result of wearing ill-fitting shoes. The toe bends downward, rather than pointing straight forward. Genetics, arthritis, and muscle imbalance can also cause hammer toe.
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia, the fibrous tissue that runs along the arch to connect the heel bone and ball of the forefoot. Heel spurs aren’t the same as plantar fasciitis but the two are often associated. Since the plantar fascia is subjected to great amounts of impact and pressure while supporting the foot’s arch, it can become inflamed and irritated. In some cases, it begins to deteriorate.
Heel Spurs
Spurs are outgrowths of bone. Heel spurs form on the bottom of the foot due to calcium deposits forming over time and usually develop in areas subjected to constant pressure.
Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails, known as onychocryptosis, most commonly occur on the big toe and are caused by pressure that drives the edge of the nail into the surrounding skin. This causes redness, inflammation, swelling, pain and sometimes, infection. Clipping the toenails too short or poor foot hygiene can also lead to ingrown toenails. Runners and other individuals with toe deformities can also be prone to ingrown toenails.
Neuromas
Neuromas are non-cancerous growths of nerve tissue, or nerve tumors, that form when the nerves are irritated by surrounding tissue rubbing against them. Symptoms of a neuroma include intense pain, swelling, tingling, numbness, and/ or a burning sensation in the toes and forefoot area. Neuromas most frequently develop between the third and fourth toes.
Sesamoiditis
Small bones along tendons are called sesamoids. In your foot, they’re on the top near the big toe, allowing it to move freely. Sesamoids help with push-off activities such as walking, running, and climbing. Since they’re exposed to excessive force and pressure during weight-bearing activities, sports, and exercises, they’re often prone to injury and trauma, as well as stress from overuse or from standing on hard surfaces for prolonged periods. Sesamoiditis is a condition where these bones become inflamed or even fractured.
Ankle Sprain
When ankles twist or receive too much force, the ligaments surrounding the outside of the bones may suffer from over-stretching or tearing, resulting in a painful ankle sprain. There are different levels of sprain severity, and if the condition isn’t properly diagnosed and treated, it can cause permanent ankle damage.
Shin Splints
Another common foot and ankle problem is a shin splint, which happens when the muscles or tendons surrounding the leg bone become inflamed, irritated, and painful often caused by overuse, a collapsing arch, stress fractures in the lower leg bones, or imbalance between opposite leg muscle groups. Fortunately, proper stretching before and after exercise, sports, or activity helps prevent shin splints, as will corrective shoes or orthotics.
It’s important to seek medical care as soon as possible, as immediate, proper diagnoses and treatments prevent problems from worsening or resulting in permanent damage. Call our office today to schedule a comprehensive examination.