Foot & Ankle Treatment and Surgery (Podiatry)
Understanding Your Feet and Addressing Foot & Ankle Pain
Our feet are complex structures designed for balance and carrying us throughout our lives. They consist of 26 bones, 33 joints, and numerous muscles, tendons, and ligaments – all working together to allow us to walk, run, and jump. This intricate machinery can be susceptible to wear and tear, leading to pain and impacting our mobility.
The Three Main Parts of Your Feet
- Hindfoot (Heel): This area includes the calcaneus (heel bone) and the talus (ankle bone), connected by the subtalar joint for side-to-side movement. The ankle joint, formed by the talus and tibia/fibula (leg bones), allows up-and-down movement.
- Midfoot (Arch): Comprised of five tarsal bones, this section forms the arch and acts as a shock absorber during activities like walking and running. Muscles and the plantar fascia ligament connect the midfoot to the forefoot and hindfoot.
- Forefoot (Toes): This part consists of the phalanges (toe bones) connected to the metatarsals (long bones) by joints. The forefoot bears a significant portion of our body weight.
Keeping Your Feet Moving
Muscles in the lower leg, connected to the feet by tendons, control crucial movements like standing, walking, and jumping. These muscles move your toes and control the position of your foot as it hits the ground, allowing it to become flexible and cushioning the impact. They also make the arches of your feet more rigid to push your body forward when you move.
Your heel bone is connected to the calf muscles in your lower leg by your Achilles tendon, which is the most important tendon for movement. The tibialis posterior tendon, which attaches the underside of your foot to your lower leg, helps support the arch of your foot and allows you to turn it inward.
The main nerve of your foot controls the muscles in your sole and gives feeling here and to your toes. Other nerves provide feeling to the top and outside edge of your foot.
Ankle & Foot Pain Treatment Options
Foot problems and ankle problems are quite common. Fortunately, many can be addressed effectively without resorting to surgery. Podiatrists, foot specialists, typically begin with non-surgical treatments like physical therapy and strengthening exercises to address pain and improve function.
Common Podiatry Conditions
- Bunions
- Hammertoes
- Ingrown Toenails
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Ball of Foot Pain
- Arthritis-Related Pain
- Sprains and Fractures
- Broken ankle or foot
When Surgery Becomes Necessary
In some cases, surgery may be recommended to correct physical problems or relieve chronic pain. Foot and ankle surgery aims to improve function, reduce pain, increase range of motion, and enhance quality of life. Here are some common surgical procedures:
- Ankle Arthroscopy: Minimally invasive surgery for diagnosing and treating ligament tears, fractures, and other ankle issues.
- Ankle Replacement Surgery: Replacing a diseased or damaged joint with an artificial one.
- Fracture and Dislocation Treatment: Repairing broken bones or dislocations in the ankle or foot.
- Ligament and Tendon Reconstruction: Repairing or reconstructing torn or weak ligaments, including Achilles tendon surgery.
Seeking Expert Help
At Iowa Specialty Hospitals & Clinics, our board-certified podiatrists offer comprehensive foot care and ankle care. We leverage advanced technology and personalized treatment plans to address a wide range of conditions, including:
- Acute Injuries: Stress fractures, dislocations, torn cartilage, and ligament/tendon tears.
- Bone Spurs
- Arthritis: Degenerative and inflammatory forms like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.
- Overuse Injuries: Plantar fasciitis
- Synovitis (Joint Lining Inflammation)
- Unexplained Foot & Ankle Issues: Pain, swelling, joint locking, catching, or grinding.
Don't let foot pain or ankle pain limit your mobility and quality of life. Our specialists can help! At Iowa Specialty Hospitals & Clinics, our foot and ankle specialists have years of training, education, and experience. To provide an initial diagnosis, our orthopedic team may use medical imaging technology, and we also work closely with our physical therapy team to develop a custom treatment plan for you. They are experts in their field and are focused on providing the best treatment for each patient's situation.