There are many different clinical pictures around the foot, which can have many different causes. For example, restrictions in the foot area can be caused by injuries, age-related wear and tear, or can be congenital. Below you will find an overview of the most common diseases of the foot:
- Traumatic diseases of the foot
- Inflammatory diseases of the foot
- Degenerative diseases of the foot
- Foot malpositions
Traumatic diseases of the foot
Fractures (fractures) of the foot can affect many different bones (toe bones, metatarsal bones or tarsal bones). Depending on the cause of the fracture, which bones are involved and how severe the fracture appears, different complaints can occur and different treatments may be necessary. In addition to fractures caused by external forces, fatigue fractures in the metatarsal region occur very frequently in cases of overloading (e.g. in competitive athletes).
A sprain (distortion) is a frequently occurring injury to the joint capsule or the ligamentous apparatus of a joint. The collagen fibers of these structures are overstretched. It occurs mainly in athletes and physically very active persons.
The foot in the upper ankle joint is particularly at risk. A treatment with a tape bandage is possible. The twisting of the foot is the most common cause of overstretching, straining or tearing of the ligaments of the foot.
The foot bends inwards and the outer ligament is overloaded. Folding outwards and thus an injury to the inner ligament occurs very rarely compared to folding inwards. A possible cause for an injury of the inner ligament can be a hard step from the front onto the ankle joint.
It is important that the patient sees a doctor as soon as possible after a painful twist, even if the pain has improved after some time. If a torn ligament is not treated, there is a risk of serious long-term consequences, such as permanent instability of the joint. The presence of instability over the years also promotes the development of degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis).
