home therapies joint & spine specialist the foot

The foot beyond the ankle is comprised of a series of small bones (Tarsals) joining to make up the mid foot region. The toes have interconnecting thin bones (Metatarsals and Phalanges) joining together to give the varied toe lengths. Ligaments help hold the bones together. There are three arches in the foot, one to both the outside and the inside of the foot. The other runs across the foot just where the toes begin. The muscles and tendons in the foot come from the calf and from within the foot itself, helping in balance, walking, running, jumping and general weight bearing. The nerve supply to the foot comes from the lower back.

Common complaints:

The foot tends to be affected by either problems from the calf involving muscles and tendons which run into the foot, or from within the foot itself. The arches of the foot are important in balance and correct walking patterns, if malformed can lead to Pain localised to the foot which can vary from a sharp catching pain to radiating pains across areas within the foot.

Often these are made worse when weight bearing. It is not uncommon for the foot to become swollen, making it difficult to wear shoes. In later years distortion of bones within the foot can create a localised pain and again difficulty with finding shoes that will fit comfortably. The arches within the foot are also important, if these don’t support the foot properly, discomfort can result, leading to problems later in life. Many sports can affect the foot particularly those where force or repetitive movements are performed, as in football tennis, athletics etc.

Common associated conditions treated:

• Arthritis
• Arch Malformations
• Muscular, Ligament, Tendon and Bone injuries.
• Referred pain.