Overview

The ankles support the entire body weight and ankle injuries are very common. Each year, approximately 2 million patients are treated for ankle sprains and strains and ankle fractures are one of the most common injuries treated by orthopedists and podiatr…

Overview

Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) is a common persistent infection of the foot caused by a microscopic fungus that lives on dead tissue of the hair, toenails, and outer skin layers (dermatophyte). These fungi thrive in warm, dark, moist environments such as sh…

Overview

Bunions are painful swellings that develop most often on the inner side of the foot near the base of the first toe (hallux). Less frequently, bunions occur at the base of the fifth toe (called a "tailor's bunion").

Bunions result from inflammation and th…

Overview

Calluses, also called keratomas or tylomas, are areas of thickened skin caused by repeated friction and pressure. They form to protect the skin and the structures beneath it from injury or damage and can develop on any part of the body. People who work wi…

Overview

Charcot foot is a progressive degenerative condition that affects the joints in the feet. It is associated with nerve damage (neuropathy) that decreases the ability to sense stimuli, including pain, and decreases muscular reflexes that control movement. A…

Overview

Corns, also called helomas, are thickened areas of skin that form in response to excessive pressure and friction. They form to protect the skin and the structures beneath it from damage or injury. Corns are usually hard and circular, with a waxy or transl…

Overview

Diabetes mellitus, also called diabetes, is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels. The condition results from a defect in the body's ability to produce or utilize insulin. Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas tha…

Overview

Fibromyalgia is a chronic musculoskeletal syndrome characterized by pain, achiness, tenderness, and stiffness in the muscle tissue, ligaments, and tendons. It most frequently affects the neck, shoulders, chest, legs, and lower back. Pain is generally acco…

Overview

Gout is a disease caused by the buildup of uric acid in the joints. It results from an elevated blood level of uric acid (hyperuricemia), which occurs when the liver produces more uric acid than the body can excrete in the urine, or when a diet high in ri…

Overview

Heel pain is one of the most common forms of foot pain in adults. It often occurs as a result of daily activities and exercise. The heel bone (calcaneus) is the largest bone in the foot and the heel is the first part of the foot to contact the ground duri…

Overview

Ingrown toenails are known to physicians as onychocryptosis. They are common, painful conditions that occur when the skin on the side of a toenail grows over the edge of the nail, or when the nail grows into the skin.

Causes

Ingrown toenails can develop …

Overview

Morton's neuroma is an enlarged nerve that usually occurs in the third interspace, which is between the third and fourth toes (see image below). To understand this further, it may be helpful to look at the anatomy of the foot.

Problems often develop in t…

Overview

Onychomycosis is a fungal infection that causes fingernails or toenails to thicken, discolor, disfigure, and split. If the problem is caused by a bacterium, the condition is called paronychia.

The nails of people with onychomycosis are initially a cosme…

Overview

Orthotics are orthopedic devices that are used to alter or modify foot function and are designed to treat, adjust, and support various biomechanical foot disorders. Some orthotics are simple, commercially-made devices, such as cushioned heel cups or insol…

Overview

Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease and osteoarthrosis, is the most common form of arthritis. It is characterized by the breakdown of cartilage in joints (i.e., intersections of two bones) and is often caused by "wear and tear." Cartila…

Overview

Plantar warts are benign (noncancerous) growths that occur on the sole (plantar surface), heel, or ball of the foot. Pressure from standing and walking often causes them to grow into deep layers of the skin.

The human papilloma virus (HPV) causes several…

Overview

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) or complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), is a chronic, painful, and progressive neurological condition that affects skin, muscles, joints, and bones. The syndrome usually develops in an injured limb, such as a broken le…

Overview

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation in the lining of the joint capsule (synovium) and the lining of tendons. RA is a serious and often disabling condition that can cause chronic pain, permanent joint dam…

Overview

Running and jogging are excellent forms of exercise, but they subject the body to considerable stress. Each time a runner's foot hits the ground, for example, it generates forces equivalent to at least three times the body's weight. It is important to do …

Overview

Sesamoiditis is painful inflammation of the sesamoid apparatus, which is located in the forefoot. It is a common condition that typically affects physically active young people. Sesamoiditis causes pain in the ball of the foot, especially on the inner (me…

Overview

Malignant melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer that can affect the legs and feet, as well as other parts of the body. In this disease, pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) become cancerous and grow and divide at an uncontrolled rate. The primary ris…

Overview

Tarsal tunnel syndrome is caused by the entrapment of the tibial nerve.

The tibial nerve follows a curving route down the back of the leg to the ankle, where it turns and curls below the inside of the ankle. There are four compartments in this region. In…

Overview

The toes are vital to walking and stability (see Anatomy of the Foot and Ankle). Toe deformities are commonly caused by a muscle imbalance in the foot as a result of flatfeet, traumatic injury, or disease of the toe joints.

There are at least six sets …

Overview

Xerosis is a medical term for dry skin. When it results in skin that is scaly and itchy, the condition is called pruritus. This occurs when natural moisture is drawn out of the skin.

The skin needs moisture to protect itself. The best way to relieve dry …

Overview

Allergic contact dermatitis is a condition that occurs when the skin comes into contact with a substance that produces an allergic reaction (e.g., rash). In most case, these substances (called allergens) are harmless. However, some people are born with o…

Overview

Achilles tendonitis, also sometimes called Achilles tendinitis, is a painful and often debilitating inflammation of the Achilles tendon (heel cord). The Achilles tendon is the largest and strongest tendon in the body. It is located in the back of the low…