The structure of your foot can impact your life day to day, causing pain, difficulty walking or increased stress on other areas of your body. These anatomical foot problems are often correctable. Our providers at Best Foot Doctor NY provide care to patients in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and beyond. This article provides an overview of anatomical foot issues.
Bone Issues
The foot is composed of 28 bones ranging from the larger heel bone to the small sesamoid bones at the base of the large toe. Painful bone conditions include extraneous bone growth such as bunions, bone spurs, and heel spurs. Bunions and spurs are often surgically removed.
Pigeon Toed
Being pigeon-toed means that your feet are angled so that your toes point towards each other. This condition most commonly affects children and is not a cause for concern. Pigeon toes are not painful. As your child grows, the bones typically adjust on their own and their feet straighten out. If you experience pigeon toes as an adult with accompanying pain or difficulty walking, talk to your doctor about surgery.
Ligament and Tendon Issues
Ligaments are tough fibrous tissue connecting bone to bone whereas tendons connect bone to muscles.
Fallen Arches
The sole of your foot typically has a natural arch to it. With age or injury, this arch can decrease leading to what is known as a “flat foot,” where the sole of the foot is nearly flat against the floor. This is often the result of a weakened tendon or ligament but can also be caused by a variety of other physical deformities such as one leg being longer than the other. Fallen arches can result in foot, knee, hip, or back pain.
Our providers at Best Foot Doctor NY offer diagnosis and treatment of fallen arches. Typically they begin by creating custom foot orthotics that go in your shoes. These help to support the foot and hold the bottom of your foot in an arched position. They may also recommend physical therapy exercises to help strengthen the affected muscles. In rare cases, surgery may be necessary to adjust the structure of the bones and tendons in your foot.
Joint Issues
A joint is where two bones meet allowing for bending or rotation. The joints of the toes can become malformed, usually from wearing poor-fitting shoes. These conditions are often painful and require medical attention.
Hammertoe
A hammertoe usually occurs in the second toe. The middle joint bends down, causing the middle section of the toe to be abnormally raised.
Mallet Toe
A mallet toe is also most common in the second toe. This time, the third joint closest to the end of the toe is affected, resulting in the end of the toe bending down toward the ground.
Claw Toe
A claw toe is a combination of both the second and third joints bending down, forcing the toe to curl around under the foot. This is usually consistent across all four toes at the same time.
For diagnosis and treatment of these anatomical foot issues, contact our specialists in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan. The experts of Best Foot Doctor NY are ready to help you.