Made of 26 bones, which are connected by many joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments, the foot is one of the most complex parts of the body. When pain, inflammation or injury occurs, this can result in limited motion and mobility.
Crystal Clinic’s orthopedic surgeons are specialists in the complete range of both common and complex foot and ankle problems, including these frequently seen conditions:
Achilles tendinitis,
which causes pain and stiffness from the calf through the back of your heel due to overuse or repeated stress to the Achilles tendon.
Arthritis,
one of the most common conditions affecting the foot and ankle, which occurs when cartilage wears away from the joint due to injury, aging or overuse.
Fractures or breaks in the bone,
which are caused by injuries or diseases such as osteoporosis or cancer. Another type is a stress fracture caused by overuse or repetitive motion.
Bunions (Hallux valgus),
which is a bump at the joint of the big toe on the inside front of the forefoot. If the bump is large enough, the big toe will turn in toward the smaller toes. In more severe cases, a bunion can lead to deformities on the second and third toes.
Flat feet,
which occurs when both of the arches in the foot are lower than normal. While generally painless, flat feet may cause pain when walking or playing sports.
Hammertoe,
which is a condition where one or more toes become crooked or bent at the middle joint, causing them to rub at the tops of shoes.
Plantar fasciitis,
which is irritation and inflammation of the plantar fascia, a ligament on the bottom of the foot that connects the heel to the front of your foot and supports the arch.
Stiff big toe (Hallux rigidus),
which often occurs as a result of wear and tear, or damage to the articular cartilage that covers the ends of the bones. As this cartilage is worn away, the ends of the bones can rub together, causing a bone spur or overgrowth that limits the bending of the toe, resulting in pain, swelling and a bump on the top of the foot.
Sprains and strains,
which are common in people of all ages. Sprains occur when ligaments stretch beyond their limits and tear. A strain may be an overstretched muscle or tendon, or it could be a partial or complete tear in both the muscle and tendon.