FOOT/TOE

ARTHRITIS is inflammation and swelling of the cartilage and lining of the joints.  The feet are very susceptible because of the weight bearing load on the feet and because the foot has 33 joints that can be afflicted.  Arthritis can arise through injuries especially in athletes and industrial workers.  The most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. 

FOOTDROP is a weakness or paralysis of the muscles involved in lifting the front part of the foot.  This can cause you to drag the toe of your shoe and impair walking.  Footdrop can be caused by a compressed nerve root in the spine due to a ruptured disc, pressure/injury to a nerve in your lower leg, or a stroke. 

FRACTURE OF THE TALUS most often occurs in car accidents, snowboarding, or falls.  The talus is the odd shaped humped bone between the heel bone and the two bones of the lower leg.  The talus and the bones of the foot are important for walking.      

LISFRANC FRACTURE (MIDFOOT FRACTURE) occurs where small bones form the arch on top of the foot between the ankle and toes.  The most common accidents that can result in this are dropping a heavy object on top of your foot or falling and twisting your foot. 

STRESS FRACTURE is a type of overuse injury.  These are tiny cracks in the bones that occur when your muscles become tired and can no longer absorb the stress on the bones.  Athletes and military recruits are those most commonly affected. 

TOE FRACTURES are almost always traumatic fractures.  The treatment of these depends on the break itself.