The Achilles tendon connects the three strongest flexor muscles of the leg to the foot. It is a tendon that connects the two heads of the gastrocnemius muscle and the deeper soleus muscle to the calcaneus, or heel bone. The Achilles can be felt in the back of the ankle and is just under the skin. This tendon is a common source of pain in runners an [..]

Shoes designed specifically for comfort. An accommodative shoe usually fits the shape of the foot with a wide toe box and good arch support.

A pediatric condition where the front of the foot twists inward. Treatment may include special shoes, braces or surgery depending on the severity of the deformity.

A national medical specialty society of orthopaedic surgeons who specialize in foot and ankle care. With a large international membership, the AOFAS is the world's premiere society for foot and ankle surgeons. The society offers continuing medical education programs and sponsors research grants, humanitarian outreach and public education initi [..]

Chronic, repetitive sprains of the ankle. This can be due to an injury that never healed properly, weak ankle ligaments or a heel that tilts inward (varus heel).

The joint between the foot and the lower leg. The ankle joint allows the foot to move upward (dorsiflex) and move downward (plantarflex). It is made up of the two bones of the lower leg (tibia and fibula) and the ankle bone (talus). There are ligaments that hold the joint together on the inside (deltoid) and outside (lateral ankle ligament complex) [..]

A surgical procedure to remove the bunion and realign the big toe. Surgery may involve bone cutting (osteotomy) of one or more bones of the foot, removal of spurs around the joint and rebalancing of the tendons around the bit toe. Recovery time depends on the complexity of the surgery.

A painful swelling or lump where the little toe meets the foot. This may be a spur on the outside of the joint, or it may be related to the fifth toe joint becoming angled. 

The heel bone. There are two joints of the heel bone: the subtalar joint that allows motion with the ankle (talus) bone, and the calcaneocuboid joint, which has a complicated biomechanical function that controls flexibility of the foot and controls the arch of the foot. The Achilles tendon attaches to the back of the calcaneus, and the plantar fasc [..]

Cartilage is a living tissue that lines our joints. It is a matrix of proteins and collagen that is tough, absorbs shock and is very smooth. Healthy cartilage can, and often does, last our whole life without problems. Disease of the cartilage or trauma can cause the cartilage cells to die. Unlike most tissues in our body, joint cartilage cells do n [..]