"My feet are kiling me!" is one of most enduring phrases in the English language.Like most cliches, this one is grounded in day-to-day experience: the foot and ankle region is subject to constant stresses and hazards, from the effects of ill-fitting shoes to traumatic sports injuries.The results can be painful or worse. While our feet may not literally be "killing" us,foot and ankle problems can have a significant impact on our general health and well-being.
Foot and Ankle Anatomy
The foot contains three main sections of functional units: The rear foot, mid foot and fore foot. These three units work together to allow the foot to be flexible (such as accomodating an uneven surface) or to be fairly rigid (such as keeping the body upright as we go through the normal walking cycle).
Each foot contains 26 bones : seven tarsals (ankle bones), five metatarsals (instep bones) and 14 phalanges (toe bones). The main arch of the foot is called the plantar arch. It runs lengthwise and touches the ground only at the heel bone and at the ball of the foot. the plantar arch is thickly padded at both ends. There is also a thick pad of fat under the hell of the foot to absorb shock. In addition to yhe plantar arch, the foot has two other arches: the metatarsal arch, wich runs crosswise under the instep an the lateral arch, wich runs lenghtwise along the outside of the foot.
The bones and joints of the foot and ankle are held together by a strong network of muscles and ligaments. The foot is connected to the ankle where one of the tarsal bones, called the talus, meets the lower leg bones, called the tibia and fibula.
The ankle joint is called upon to provide both great stability (keeping us standing up) and the great mobility (walking, running, jumping). These two functions need to be kept in balance if we're to keep our feet healthy and functioning.
What Causes Foot and Ankle Problems?
Because we are two-footed creatures, our feet and ankles are called upon to performa a remarkable achivement of biomechanics - they keep our bodies upright and stable while permitting us to do such activities as walking, running and skating. This unique capability puts great pressure on our feet and ankles. It can also turn what were initially minor problems into major ones.
Shoes are often the culprits.It is important for all of us to know what waiters and waitresses have known for years: that if you're going to stay on your feet and keep going, your shoes have to fit right, be comfortable and provide support - and support means maximum coverage of the surface area under the plantar arch. It is also necessary yhat your shoes be able to absorb shock while you walk, and that they provide stability to the heel area.
Foot and Ankle Injuries
The most commonly reported injuries in the foot/ankle region are ankle sprains. A sprained ankle simply means that the ligaments (the strong bands of tissue that connect the bones of the foot) are stretched beyond their normal limits, resulting in inflammation, tearing, or rupture of the tissue.
Sprained ankles run the gamut from minor to serious. If you're in pain for more than a day or two, or if the pain is intense, you should see a physical therapist or a physician.If physical therapy is required, the sprained ankle will be immobilized for a short period to prevent further damage and to give the tissue a chance to heal. After that, therapy progresses quicky with exercises designed to restore stability and strength to muscles. It is also crucial that the patient's sense of balance be restored or enhanced through exercise.
"Shin splints" is a catch-all phrase for number of foot and ankle problems, including overuse of the muscles and tendons of the foot and ankle. Tendons are the strong fibrous cords that attach muscles to bones The Achilles tendon, which takes its name from ancient mythology, is easily felt at the back of the ankle. Achilles tendinitis is an inflammation of this tendon, often resulting from sports that requires a great deal of jumping.
