The Center for Foot and Ankle Disorders

Common foot and ankle problems

Your feet and ankles support the weight of your body and undergo a lot of wear and tear in the course of a normal lifetime. As more people today are living active lifestyles and taking part in more sports and physical activities, foot and ankle injuries are on the increase.

The ankle is uniquely designed to be both strong and flexible, permitting a wide range of motion, but is still subject to injuries and other problems. Some of the most common ones are:

• Sprains, which happen when the ligaments (connecting tissues that stabilize joints) are stretched or torn;
• Fractures, in which one or more bones are broken; and
• Achilles tendon problems, involving the prominent tendon at the back of the heel that connects the heel to the calf muscle. The Achilles tendon can develop tendonitis painful swelling brought on by overuse or can be ruptured by a sudden, forceful strain.

The foot is a complex structure of bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles that can develop a number of problems. Common ones include:

• Metatarsalgia, or chronic pain in the ball of the foot, often brought on by standing on hard surfaces for long periods and/or wearing shoes with thin soles and high heels;
• Heel pain, caused by irritation of the tissues of the heel (the plantar fascia) brought on by sports activities or prolonged standing;
• Neuroma, a pinched nerve in the ball of the foot between two toes, resulting in pain, tingling and numbness and often caused by wearing tight and/or high-heeled shoes;
• Bunions, a painful swelling around the joint at the base of the big toe, typically caused by wearing shoes that are too tight;
• Bone spurs, small bony outgrowths that can irritate surrounding tissues and cause pain; and
• Mallet, hammer or claw toes, a downward bending of one of more toe joints, typically caused by wearing high heels or shoes that are too short.

The joints of the ankle and foot also can develop rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis and other degenerative conditions.

How are foot and ankle problems treated?

Appropriate treatments for foot and ankle problems range from a simple change of footwear to surgery to repair, remove or replace damaged bones or tendons. Other treatment options include exercises, taping, and orthotics (special inserts for footwear).The specialists at the Orthopedic and Neurosurgical Center of the Cascades are trained to diagnose your foot or ankle problems and then determine and perform the optimal course of treatment.

Our physicians and other health care professionals are dedicated to providing the best and most advanced specialty treatments. Please visit our Physicians and Providers page for more information about our doctors on staff.

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