What is Achilles Tendinitis? Achilles tendinitis is an inflammation (swelling) of the tendon, which usually occurs as a result of overuse injury. Anyone can have Achilles tendonitis. Athletics involving frequent jumping is the classic cause, but certainly not the only one. Any activity requiring a constant pushing off the foot, such as running or dancing, [...]
What is Ankle Arthritis? Arthritis, meaning inflammation of a joint, can occur at any joint in the human body. The majority of ankle arthritis occurs due to previous injury to the joint and may be termed “post-traumatic arthritis.” Otherwise, ankle arthritis can occur due to inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis. Less commonly, the cause [...]
Ankle sprains are the most common musculoskeletal injury seen in the Emergency Room. Sprains are injuries to the ligaments of the ankle causing them to partially or completely tear as a result of sudden stretching. They can occur on either the inner and outer portions of the ankle joint. The typical injury occurs when the [...]
Overview of Morton's Neuroma Morton's neuroma is one cause of metatarsalgia, which is pain in the ball of the foot. In 1876, Thomas Morton described it. It is due to inflammation of a nerve in the foot. The inflammation is caused by entrap¬ment of the nerve under the metatarsal heads. "Neuroma" means nerve tumor. Tumor [...]
What is Plantar Fasciitis? Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common conditions causing heel pain. The condition involves inflammation of the plantar fascia -- a tough, fibrous band of tissue that runs along the sole of the foot with attachments to the calcaneus (or heel bone) and to the base of the toes. The [...]
What is a Bunion? A bunion (hallux valgus) is an enlargement of the bone or tissue around a joint at the base of the big toe or at the base of the little toe (in which case it is called a "bunionette" or "tailor's bunion"). Bunions often occur when the joint is stressed over a [...]
A hammertoe is a toe that becomes bent and contracted at one of the joints. This most commonly occurs in the second toe, but may occur in any toe. There are two types of hammertoes. Flexible hammertoes are less severe and the affected toes are still moveable at the joint. With rigid hammertoes, the tendons [...]
