Articles

Common Foot and Ankle Conditions and Disorders

by Kevin Smith Author

A problem with your foot or ankle can interfere with your daily life. You can have trouble walking, running, going up and down stairs, and even driving. The solution to your problem may be as simple as getting a better-fitting pair of shoes. More serious problems may require medication, injections, or surgery. Foot and ankle physicians in Renton, WA, can help you regain your mobility and take away your pain or discomfort.

Ankle Sprains and Strains

An ankle sprain usually results from some type of trauma. Your foot may turn inward when you're walking, running, or jumping. This causes a ligament in the ankle to stretch or tear. An ankle strain occurs when you pull or tear a tendon in your ankle. The strain may be acute as when you're lifting heaving objects, or it may be chronic as when you're performing repetitive motions.

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the ligament that connects the heel bone to the toes, causing pain in your heel. The condition is caused by walking, running, or standing for long periods of time. If the pain persists, steroidal injections may be used, a splint may be applied, or, in rare cases, surgery may be necessary.

Bunions

A bunion, a painful bony bump, can develop on the inside of your foot at the big toe joint. The big toe joint becomes enlarged. When this condition is combined with stress on the foot, such as from wearing a shoe that is too tight, the bunion develops. A bunion is usually treated by changing shoes. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to realign the bones, ligaments, and tendons in the toe joint.

Hammertoe

Hammertoe is a bending deformity of a joint of the second, third, fourth, or fifth toe. Hammertoe is caused by a muscle or tendon imbalance. The condition may be hereditary. It can also result from an enlarged big toe crowding the other toes. In its early stage, hammertoe can be managed with conservative treatment. The condition gets worse with time and won't go away on its own, so you should seek medical treatment as soon as possible.

Arthritis

Arthritis can develop in the metatarsophalangeal or MTP joint of the big toe. Your MTP joint bends each time you take a step. When the MTP joint gets stiff, walking can become painful. You may develop hallux rigidus, or severe arthritis, between the ages of 30 and 60. If conservative treatment fails, foot and ankle physicians in Renton, WA, can fuse the big toe with the first metatarsal to correct the problem.


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About Kevin Smith Senior   Author

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Joined APSense since, December 7th, 2016, From Utah, United States.

Created on May 21st 2019 05:05. Viewed 476 times.

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