Less Common Foot Problems

Everyone has heard about foot problems such as athlete’s foot, bunions, hammer toes, warts, nail fungus, etc. Podiatrists see and treat these types of problems every day. However, there are many other lesser known conditions that involve the feet. Here are a few interesting ones you may not have heard of before:

Metatarsalgia: Common overuse injury. This pain and inflammation in the ball of the foot is typically found in athletes who participate in high-impact sports.

Acrocyanosis: Blueness of the extremities. This blue discoloration of the skin can appear on toes and ankles. It is caused by the narrowing of tiny arteries toward the end of the legs.

Raynaud’s Phenomenon: A problem with blood flow. Feet feel cold and numb because the body does not send enough blood to your feet.

Turf Toe: Frequent constant jamming of the toe causes ligaments around the big toe to sprain. This is most commonly found in athletes who repeatedly push off their big toe.

Hallux Rigidus: A disorder that affects the joint at the base of the toe causing pain and restricted movement. This condition is progressive. It starts as limited movement and ends with stiffness of the toe.

Foot Drop: A muscle weakness in the front part of the foot that results in the dragging of toes while walking. 

Image by Craig Sunter. Two Foot Long. (2013). Flickr.