Achilles Tendinitis
Achilles tendinitis is an overuse injury of the Achilles tendon, the band of tissue that connects calf muscles at the back of the lower leg to your heel bone. Self-care strategies are usually necessary to prevent recurring episodes. More-serious cases of Achilles tendinitis can lead to tendon tears (ruptures) that may require surgical repair.
Foot and Ankle Arthritis
Arthritis is inflammation of one or more of your joints. It can cause pain and stiffness in any joint in the body and is common in the small joints of the foot and ankle.
Bunions
Bunions form when your big toe pushes up against your other toes, forcing your big toe joint in the opposite direction, away from normal profile of your foot. Over time, this abnormal position enlarges your big toe’s joint, forming a bony bump, which further crowds your toes and causes pain.
Flat Foot Disorder
You have flatfeet when the arches on the inside of your feet are flattened, allowing the entire soles of your feet to touch the floor when you stand up. Flatfeet can occur when the arches don’t develop during childhood. In other cases, flatfeet develop after an injury or from the simple wear-and-tear stresses of age. Flatfeet can cause pain, swelling, a flattening of the arch, and an inward rolling of the ankle. As the condition progresses, the symptoms will change and can sometimes contribute to problems in ankles and knees because the condition can alter the alignment of your legs.
Hammertoes
A hammer toe is a deformity of the proximal interphalangeal joint of the second, third, or fourth toe causing it to be permanently bent, resembling a hammer. Hammer toe most frequently results from wearing poorly fitting shoes that can force the toe into a bent position. Because of the progressive nature of hammertoes, they should receive early attention.
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar Fasciitis is an inflammation of the band of tissue (the plantar fascia) that extends from the heel to the toes. In this condition, the fascia first becomes irritated and then inflamed resulting in heel pain.
Ingrown Toenails/Fungus
When a toenail is ingrown, the nail is curved downward and grows into the skin, usually at the nail borders. This irritates the skin, often creating pain, redness, swelling, and warmth of the toe. Nail fungus may cause your nail to discolor, thicken and crumble at the edge. If your nail fungus is painful and has caused thickened nails, self-care steps and medications may help.
Foot and Ankle Trauma/Fractures
There are two types of foot fractures: stress fractures and general bone fractures. Stress fractures usually occur in the bones of the forefoot extending from the toes to the middle of the foot. Stress fractures are like tiny cracks in the bone surface. They can happen with sudden increases in exercise (such as running or walking for longer distances or times), improper training techniques, or a change in surfaces. Common symptoms for any type of foot or ankle fracture may include pain, swelling, and sometimes bruising. Because the foot and ankle are so complex, it is important to have an expert examine your injury to determine the true nature of the problem.