ORTHOPEDICS/LEG, FOOT & ANKLE
Walking, running, jumping, balancing, climbing, weight bearing, propulsion and much more other functions are in need of good health feet.
To accomplish these above movements, nearly a quarter of all the bones in the entire human body, in addition of more than 30 joints and almost a hundred muscles, ligaments, and tendons are grouping all together in the feet to perform these functions.
Hereunder a briefing of these assemblages plus an overview at some common problems that sometimes may enhance foot damages.
Foot Assembly
The foot assembly is divided into three sections: the forefoot, midfoot, and the hindfoot.
Here are the principal structures in each:
Bones
Forefoot: It is the front part of the foot, counting the toes, or the phalanges. There are 14 toe bones plus five metatarsals.
Midfoot: This section of the foot is formed of five bones called the tarsals (navicular, cuboid, medial, intermediate, and lateral cuneiforms). Together they constitute the arch of the foot, which is responsible for weight-bearing.
Hindfoot: There are only two large bones in this section of the foot: the talus and the calcaneus. the calcaneus forms the foot heel and the talus rely on top of the calcaneus and forms the ankle pivoting joint.
Joints
A joint is formed at the junction between two or more bones. Each big toe has two joints, the metatarsophalangeal joint, and the interphalangeal joint. The other four toes on each foot have three joints each: The metatarsophalangeal joint (MCP) at the base of the toe, the proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP) in the middle of the toe, and the distal phalangeal joint (DP)—the joint closest to the tip of the toe.
Muscles
The muscles that control the movements of the foot originate in the lower leg and are attached to the bones in the foot with tendons.
The main muscles that facilitate movement in the foot are:
Tibialis posterior (supports the foot’s arch)
Tibialis anterior (allows the foot to move upward)
Tibialis peroneal (controls movement on the outside of the ankle)
Extensors (raise the toes to make possible to take a step)
Flexors (stabilize the toes)
Tendons and Ligaments
The Achilles tendon is the most notable tendon of the foot which runs from the calf muscle to the heel. The Achilles tendon makes is responsible to running, jumping, climbing stairs, and stand on toes.
The principal foot ligaments of the are the:
Plantar fascia: The longest ligament of the footPlantar. Calcaneonavicular ligament: This ligament attaches the calcaneus and the navicular and supports the talus head.
Calcaneocuboid ligament: This ligament attaches the calcaneus and the tarsal bones and helps the plantar fascia support the foot arch.
Foot Problems
Knowing that many moving parts in a human be, are in the foot and how many thousands of miles these astonishing body parts hold in a lifetime, it’s not astonishing as well that these assemblages can be subject to overuse or damages.
In addition, and similar to any body part that’s made up of bone, muscle, and connective tissue, the feet are subject to certain disorders that can affect any other extremity, limb, or the spine, including:
Sprains, strains, and pulls affecting muscles or ligaments
Tendinitis (when a tendon becomes overstretched or torn)
Bone cracks and breaks
Osteoarthritis (which is particularly frequent in feet, predominantly in the joints that connect the toes to the midfoot)
Rheumatoid arthritis
Feet can also be affected by medical disorders that are not definite to them, such as:
Diabetes
Gout (in which crystals of uric acid form in a joint)
Inflammations such as athlete’s foot and onychomycosis (nail fungal infection)
There are other issues unique to the foot itself such as Heel Limbs Plantar Fasciitis, Bunions, Fallen Arches, Mallet Toe, Metatarsalgia, Claw Toe and Morton’s Neuroma
Diagnosing Problems
Checking the outside of the foot to look for signs such as inflammation in explicit zones and abnormalities in the shape of the foot and other external signs, are the diagnosis first steps.
A standard X-ray can be performed to control the inside of the foot allowing confirming the existence of a bone crack or an arthritis damage.
(MRI) and (CT scan) may follow if needed
Therapy
Like all the disorders, the foot therapy will depend on the diagnosis. Apparently, an inflammation caused by bacteria or a fungus will need an antibiotic or antifungal medicine.
Physical therapy to improve the feet and ankle strength and flexibility can be helpful in some cases.
Finally, when there is a crack or other damages, a surgery will be recommended.