The Achilles tendon is especially prone to injury among athletes, and therefore receives the most attention. But the Achilles is not the only tendon in the foot, nor is it the only one to cause problems. Tendons connect muscles to bone. When a muscle contracts, the tendon pulling on the bone creates movement. A protective [...]

Athlete’s foot, the scourge of the locker room, source of hundreds of unfunny jokes, can be more than an all around nuisance. If not treated promptly, a fungus can break the skin and lead to bacterial infection. By this time, the the dry, itchy scale between your toes has become an oozing problem requiring antibiotics. [...]

With summer on the horizon, we are all looking forward to warming up our bodies for increased activity levels. To make sure that your feet are fit for summer, we offer the following suggestions: When starting a new exercise routine, or when ramping up your current one, make sure to ease into that new routine. [...]

People do not usually associate tumors and podiatry, yet neuromas occur fairly often in the feet. Benign nerve tumors result from irritation in the body. They appear in the feet most often between the third and fourth metatarsal spaces. In some cases, they may be present under the heel, in conjunction with heel spurs. The [...]

Toenails have ceased to perform their original function over the course of evolutionary history. Watch a cat climb a tree or defend himself in a brawl, and you have a good example of how man once used his nails. But the nails that we now keep delicately trimmed and buried in shoes can cause trouble. [...]

Contrary to their name, heel spurs are not a problem exclusive to cowboys and jockeys. They occur more often in runners than in people who ride. Heel spurs are the result of constant irritation from abnormal “pull” exerted on the heel bone by the plantar fascia. They are particularly uncomfortable in the early stages, when [...]

The feet are the “last stop” in the body’s circulatory system – the body’s Siberia, so to speak, and in the winter they feel like it! Because the feet are the farthest point from the heart, they can be particularly susceptible to infection and circulatory disorders, such as cramps, numbness, varicose veins, peripheral vascular disease, [...]

One of our readers who is athletically active recently complained of pain and stiffness in her feet, especially in the early morning. She asked if it’s possible to have arthritis in her feet. Arthritis refers to inflammation of any joint, including joints in the feet. The inflammation may be the result of injury (traumatic arthritis), [...]

This winter’s fashionable high-heeled boots put women at risk for slips, falls, and injuries on ice and snow, warns Dr. Lawrence Brown, a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) with offices in Center Line, Michigan. These popular boots typically feature tall, spiked heels and narrow pointed toes. “Wearing high-heels makes [...]

Many of us are welcomed the warmer weather by sporting flip-flop sandals, however, their popularity among teens and young adults is responsible for a growing epidemic of heel pain in this population, according to Dr. Brown, a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. “We’re seeing more heel pain than ever in [...]