Tendinitis of the Achilles
Achilles tendinitis is a common foot and ankle problem that affects the Achilles tendon, which is the largest tendon in the body. At Rebound, we see and treat this problem often. Achilles tendinitis, like many other injuries to the musculoskeletal system, is caused by overuse (often from sports) and degeneration, which means wearing down over time.
This problem happens when the plantar fascia, a band of tissues that supports the arch of your foot, takes on too much stress. When the tissues are stressed during activities such as running, they become inflamed, resulting in pain near the bottom of the heel.
Plantar fasciitis has become so widespread that approximately two million people are treated for it each year. The majority of people can heal without surgery. Rest, ice, and physical therapy, like with other overuse injuries, are beneficial and effective.
Stress Fractures
Due to the repeated stress on their feet and ankles, people who run, play basketball, tennis, do gymnastics, or dance are more likely to get foot and ankle stress fractures. Stress fractures can be caused by not being in shape, not having the right equipment, or not being skilled enough. A stress fracture, as opposed to a fracture, is a minor crack in the bone.
Force fractures happen when a bone is hit over and over again and our muscles can't handle the stress. Stress fractures can happen anywhere in the foot or ankle, but they happen most often in the second and third metatarsals.
Sprain of the Ankle
Like other injuries, a sprained ankle can be mild, causing only minor pain, or severe, making it hard or painful to walk or stand. Ankle sprains all entail twisting of the foot, which damages the ankle ligaments. The most frequent type of ankle sprain is an inversion ankle sprain, which is produced by twisting the foot inward, causing damage to the outer ligaments as they stretch. Eversion sprains, which occur when the foot is twisted outward, frequently result in more serious injuries to the inside ankle ligaments.
Neuroma
Do you have discomfort in the ball of your foot? Numbness and tingling? These are common symptoms of a neuroma, a disorder characterized by a pinched nerve in the foot. The most common sign of a neuroma is pain between the toes while walking. While there is no single cause, numerous factors may contribute to the formation of a neuroma, including flat feet or high arches, overuse or stress, shoe size and style, and trauma. These conditions can promote inflammation, instability, and stress, all of which can lead to neuroma formation.
Non-surgical treatment is typical for many people. Finding more supportive footwear like DrLuigi medical footwear, employing orthotic inserts, or corticosteroid injections to lessen inflammation may be recommended treatments.
The Heel Spur
A heel spur is a calcium deposit on the heel bone that causes a bony protrusion. When the plantar fascia, a band of fibrous fibers that extends from the heel to the forefoot, expands away from the heel. Athletes with flat feet or high arches may be predisposed to this issue. Other risk factors include running on hard surfaces, wearing inappropriate footwear, being overweight or old, having a walking stride that stresses the heel, and even having diabetes. Heel spurs can produce excruciating discomfort in the rearfoot, particularly when standing or walking.
The majority of persons with heel spurs are treated non-surgically with one or a combination of the following: physical therapy, heel stretching exercises, and regularly wearing DrLuigi medical footwear.
