Ankle & Foot

The ankle joint is medically known as the talocrural joint. Three bones make up this joint; the tibia, fibula, and talus. The weight of the body is transmitted from the tibia to the talus which distributes the weight anteriorly and posteriorly within the foot.

As shock absorbers, our feet cushion up to one million pounds of pressure during one hour of strenuous exercise. They also bear up to 1.5 times your bodyweight during walking and running activities. Each foot has 26 bones. The ankle bone and the ends of the two lower leg bones form the ankle joint, which is stabilized and supported by three groups of ligaments. These structures are at increased risk of injury during activities that require jumping as well as excessive running.

Foot and ankle emergencies happen every day. Broken bones, dislocations, sprains, contusions, infections, and other serious injuries can occur at any time. Often simple treatments are very effective at treating foot and ankle pain, but you have to know the cause of your symptoms before finding the proper treatment.

Frequently Treated Foot and Ankle Problems and Conditions:

Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is a common condition that causes heel pain. Plantar fasciitis is due to irritation and inflammation of the tight tissue that forms the arch of the foot. Common symptoms of plantar fasciitis include heel pain with prolonged walking and standing.

Heel Spur
A heel spur is a condition that is closely related to plantar fasciitis. A heel spur is a hook of bone that forms where the plantar fascia attaches to the heel bone.

Ankle Sprain
An ankle sprain results when the ligaments of the foot are either stretched too far or tear due to the injury. Treatment of an ankle sprain is important to get back to activity quickly.

High Ankle Sprain
A high ankle sprain is a term used to describe an injury to the ligaments that connect the two bones of the lower leg. The ligament, called a syndesmosis, joins the bones together and runs from the knee to the ankle. In a high ankle sprain, the syndesmosis is injured.

Achilles Tendonitis & Rupture
Achilles tendonitis causes pain at the back of the calf, and may result in a rupture of the Achilles tendon in severe cases.

Posterior Tibial Tendonitis
Posterior tibial tendonitis is an uncommon problem of one of the major tendons in the foot. Problems with this tendon can be debilitating.

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
Information about tarsal tunnel syndrome, a pinched nerve in the back of the foot.

Flat Feet
While flat feet may not be a problem themselves, they often lead to overpronation, and a predisposition to common overuse injuires.

Achilles Tendon Rupture
An Achilles tendon rupture is a common injury seen in middle-aged athletes. Treatment of an Achilles tendon rupture is most often with surgery to reattach the torn edges of the ruptured tendon.

Treatment of Torn Achilles Tendon
Treatment options for patients who have sustained a tear of the Achilles tendon. Both surgery and non-surgical treatmens are available to patients who have sustained an Achilles tendon rupture.

Achilles Tendon Injuries
Achilles tendon injuries can cause pain behind the heel and difficulty walking. Some Achilles conditions are the result of an acute injury, while others come from chronic overuse.

Frequently treated foot and ankle problems and conditions include:

• Achilles Tendon Injuries
• Ankle Instability
• Ankle Sprains
• Arthritis of the Ankle
• Arthritis of the Foot
• Bunions
• Claw Toe
• Clubfoot
• Diabetic Foot
• Flat Foot
• Foot & Ankle Stress Fractures
• Foot Tingling
• Fractures and Trauma
• Gout
• Haglunds Deformity
• Hammer Toe
• Heel Bone Fracture
• Heel Pain
• Jones Fractures
• Midfoot (LisFranc) Fracture
• Mortons Neuromas
• Peroneal Tendon Tears
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Sports-related Injuries
• Stiff Big Toe
• Structural Deformities
• Tendon Injuries