Foot Injuries and Disorders

Summary

Each of your feet has 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 tendons, muscles, and ligaments. No wonder a lot of things can go wrong. Here are a few common problems:

• Bunions – hard, painful bumps on the big toe joint
• Corns and calluses – thickened skin from friction or pressure
• Plantar warts – warts on the soles of your feet
• Fallen arches – also called flat feet

Ill-fitting shoes often cause these problems. Aging and being overweight also increase your chances of having foot problems.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Living With

• Acute Inflammation American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
• Foot and Ankle Rehabilitation Exercises American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Mobility Aids: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
• Smoking and Bone Healing – A Risky Surgical Combination American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons

Start Here

• Adult Foot Health American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society

Find an Expert

• American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
• American Podiatric Medical Association American Podiatric Medical Association
• Find a Foot and Ankle Orthopaedic Surgeon American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
• Find a Podiatrist American Podiatric Medical Association
• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Specifics

• Arthritis and the Feet American Podiatric Medical Association
• Bunions (Hallux Abducto Valgus) American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
• Burning Feet Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Cavus Foot (High-Arched Foot) American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
• Charcot Foot American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
• Equinus American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
• Flatfeet Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Flexible Flatfoot American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
• Foot Drop Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Fractures of the Fifth Metatarsal American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
• Ganglion Cyst American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
• Itchy Hands or Feet VisualDX
• Lisfranc (Midfoot) Injury American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Metatarsalgia Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Morton’s Neuroma (Intermetatarsal Neuroma) American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
• Neuromas American Podiatric Medical Association
• Osteoarthritis of the Foot and Ankle American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
• Peroneal Tendon Injuries American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
• Plantar Fibroma American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
• Plantar Fibroma and Plantar Fibromatosis American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
• Plantar Warts Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Puncture Wounds American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
• Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Foot and Ankle American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
• Tailor’s Bunion (Bunionette) American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
• Tarsal Coalition American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
• Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
• Trench Foot or Immersion Foot Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Diagnosis and Tests

• Bone X-Ray (Radiography) Radiological Society of North America
• Foot Problems American Academy of Family Physicians
• Foot Push-Up Test American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
• How to Evaluate Your Feet American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
• Search the Foot and Ankle: Interactive Foot Diagram American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
• X-Ray Exam: Foot Nemours Foundation

Genetics

• Bunion: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Feingold syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Hand-foot-genital syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine

Treatments and Therapies

• Cavus Foot Surgery American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
• Foot Surgery American Podiatric Medical Association
• Prescription Custom Orthotics and Shoe Inserts American Podiatric Medical Association
• Sprains, Strains and Fractures American Podiatric Medical Association
• Subtalar Arthroscopy American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society

Encyclopedia

• Charcot foot Medical Encyclopedia
• Clubfoot repair Medical Encyclopedia
• Foot drop Medical Encyclopedia
• Leg MRI scan Medical Encyclopedia
• Leg or foot amputation Medical Encyclopedia

Patient Handouts

• Claw foot Medical Encyclopedia
• Clubfoot Medical Encyclopedia
• Common peroneal nerve dysfunction Medical Encyclopedia
• Extremity x-ray Medical Encyclopedia
• Flat feet Medical Encyclopedia
• Foot pain Medical Encyclopedia
• Foot sprain – aftercare Medical Encyclopedia
• Foot, leg, and ankle swelling Medical Encyclopedia
• Hand or foot spasms Medical Encyclopedia
• High arch Medical Encyclopedia
• Metatarsal fracture (acute) – aftercare Medical Encyclopedia
• Metatarsal stress fractures – aftercare Medical Encyclopedia
• Metatarsus adductus Medical Encyclopedia
• Morton neuroma Medical Encyclopedia

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Foot Diseases National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Foot Injuries National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Neuroma National Institutes of Health

Children

• Clubfoot Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Clubfoot repair – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia
• Flat Feet (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• In-Toeing Nemours Foundation
• Intoeing American Academy of Family Physicians
• Out-Toeing Nemours Foundation
• Toe Walking Nemours Foundation

Images

• Common Foot Problems VisualDX
• Pitted Keratolysis VisualDX
• Plantar Wart VisualDX

Older Adults

• Foot Problems AGS Health in Aging Foundation

Reference Desk

• Glossary of Foot and Ankle Terms American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society

Journal Articles

• Foot Injuries and Disorders