A bunion -- also known as hallux valgus -- looks like a growth on the bottom outside edge of your big toe, but that bony protrusion is actually the base of your metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint that’s shifted out of alignment. Conventional wisdom used to be that bunions were caused by...
Whether you have osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or gout, you may think that the only way to get relief is from medication. While medication can certainly help you manage your arthritis pain, you can also find more natural remedies that support your body and reduce the amount of pain and stiffness...
If you have a hammertoe, you may be embarrassed to go to the beach or wear sandals. You may also have a harder and harder time finding and wearing shoes that don’t rub painfully against the corns and calluses at the top of your arched toe joint. A hammertoe bends...
When you think about your body, you’re well aware of tissues like muscles, tendons, and ligaments. You’ve probably experienced what it feels like to get a sprain or a strain, which is a tear or stretch in those tissues that causes pain and weakness. But your body also has another...
Your Achilles tendon is the fibrous cord that connects your lower calf muscle to your heel. It’s named after the Greek half-god Achilles, who was known for being an extraordinarily strong and adept warrior. As the story goes, Achilles’ mother held him by the heel and dipped him in the...
Although they can develop on any part of your body, warts are an infection that develops when the human papillomavirus (HPV) enters through a cut on your skin, forming a bump. It is important to note that warts are non-cancerous growths. They are contagious and can be passed by interpersonal...
If you have a bunion that makes it hard to choose shoes and a little embarrassing to go barefoot, studies show you can probably blame your family. Technically called hallux valgus, bunions plague about 60% of the adult population, and of those, 63-90% can tag the condition to inherited family...
Maybe you’re an athlete who planted, pivoted, and heard a pop. Or maybe you had a bad fall or a car accident that hyperextended your knee. Whatever the cause, your torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is extremely painful and inconvenient. All you want to do is stop the pain and...
Your heels are the unsung heroes of your feet, rarely getting the credit and attention for all the hard work they do. Think about it: Your heels take a lot of pounding day after day. For most people, the heels are the first part of the foot that makes contact...
If you’ve ever had an ankle sprain, you’ve got lots of company. Ankle sprains are among the most common injuries, and not just for athletes — sprains are a common injury for just about anyone, even people who lead relatively sedentary lifestyles. A single sprain, though painful, typically isn’t too...
Ingrown toenails are pretty common, but that doesn’t mean they should be ignored. An ingrown toenail occurs when the corner of your toenail begins to grow into the soft, tender tissue surrounding the nail bed. Most ingrown toenails affect the big toe, although any toe can be affected. Ingrown nails...
Ankle pain is a common complaint, especially among adults, athletes, and just about anyone who takes part in physical activities in which the feet are subjected to a lot of strain and impact. While some types of pain are related to traumatic injuries, like fractures and sprains, a significant amount...
Arthritis in any of the joints is painful to deal with, but having this condition develop in your foot can be especially difficult. You rely on your feet for movement, and yet every twist and turn may mean pain for you. With a few helpful tips, you may be able...
If you have a painful bunion, you’re not alone. Statistics show that more than 30 percent of adults in the U.S. have bunions, a condition that occurs when the big toe joint becomes deformed. Many factors can cause or contribute to bunions, including the shoes we wear. In fact, data from...
Arthroscopy can be a very effective approach for treating many types of injuries, including traumatic and disease-related injuries. To get the best results from your procedure, physical therapy is recommended to improve healing so you can get back to the activities you enjoy. Here’s what to expect during and after...
Some 10 percent of all bone fractures happen in the 52 bones of the feet, and many of these can be directly attributed to inadequate footwear. Whether you wear athletic shoes to get groceries or to run a 10K, having proper athletic shoes prevents instability, improves weight distribution and provides the...
Foot surgery is a daunting prospect. You face anesthesia, incisions, and potential blood loss as well as compromised movement and pain during recovery. You can sail through the process and recovery by preparing in advance. Your home is going to serve as your place for recovery. Make it a nurturing...
If you’ve been told you need total ankle arthroplasty, or a total ankle replacement, you probably have lots of questions. This major surgery is usually called for if you have arthritis as a result of aging, genetics, or a past injury such as a fracture or dislocation. The goal of...
Feet don’t get enough credit. These unsung heroes are the base support for your entire body, and if you’re not lucky enough to have perfect feet, you can find yourself with problems like hammertoes, bunions, bursitis, calluses, and plantar fasciitis. These foot issues and those like them can have a...