The Achilles tendon is a strong cord made of fibrous connective tissue that attaches the calf muscle group to the calcaneus, or heel bone. The Achilles tendon is located at the lower end of the calf, and it is the continuation of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. This tendon is one of the strongest tendons in the body and is essential for performing many occupational and recreational activities, especially athletic...
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Arthritis, which literally means “joint pain,” is one of the leading causes of disability among Americans. Arthritis, including arthritis in the foot, toe, and ankle joints, can occur at any age, though certain types of arthritis may be more common in older or younger individuals. There is no cure for this health problem, though there are many treatment options available. Treating arthritis in its early stages may allow a person...
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Athlete’s foot, also known as tinea pedis, is a fungal infection of the feet. In most cases, the fungal infection develops on the bottom of the foot and between the toes. Athlete’s foot is a common health problem that may last for a long time if the proper care and attention is not applied. This condition can be difficult to treat and may recur following treatment. It's commonly believed that...
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In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, discusses the underlying causes of ball of foot pain and gives special attention to the condition called capsulitis—an inflammation or irritation of the fibrous capsules surrounding the metatarsophalangeal joints. This educational video also demonstrates how to treat capsulitis using natural, non-invasive methods and discusses some of the most common conventional...
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Foot blisters are a problem that most people experience at some point during their lives. Blisters are usually caused by friction from shoes or socks rubbing repeatedly against the skin, causing friction burns. Friction blisters occur when the outer layer of skin separates from the inner layer of skin and the space between these layers fills with lymph fluid. Friction blisters can cause significant pain or discomfort and may impair...
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Bunionettes are less common than regular bunions (bumps or prominences that develop on the inside part of the base of the big toe), though they are similar to a true bunion in their appearance and symptoms. Bunionettes are often called tailor’s bunions because they frequently occur in tailors who sit cross-legged on hard surfaces for prolonged periods. The outside aspect of the feet, when sitting in this position, is subjected...
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In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, discusses how bunionettes are treated using conventional and natural approaches. A bunionette, also known as a tailor's bunion, is a bump or prominence on the fifth metatarsal bone, at the base of the little toe. A bunionette is not a growth of bone, as is commonly believed; it is, instead,...
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Bunions are NOT a growth of bone that forms on the side of the big toe. They ARE a dislocation of the big toe's MTP joint. The first MTP joint is located at the base of the big toe, where one of the big toe's bones (the proximal phalanx) meets the foot's first long bone (the first metatarsal). This joint should be straight, or almost straight, and the big toe...
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In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, discusses how bunions are treated using conventional and natural approaches. This video takes a closer look at the effects of footwear on foot and toe anatomy and function and the role of conventional footwear (especially the design element called toe box taper) on bunion formation. Dr. Ray also delves deeper...
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Bursae are situated in various locations throughout the body where friction between tissues commonly occurs. These sacs are designed to help reduce friction and prevent pain. Repetitive movements or prolonged and excessive pressure are the most common causes of bursal inflammation, though traumatic injury may also cause this painful problem. In fact, the body sometimes creates bursal sacs in response to trauma or tissue damage. Infracalcaneal bursitis (inflammation of the...
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Ligaments surround joints, including the toe joints, and help form joint capsules. Joint capsules help protect the joints and allow them to function properly. Capsulitis—inflammation of a joint capsule—is a common problem in certain parts of the body, especially the shoulders and feet, and it may cause significant discomfort. This health problem can, over time, lead to toe dislocation if it’s not treated properly. In fact, capsulitis is sometimes called...
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Thick, hard skin can occur on any part of the foot. However, corns and calluses are particularly common on the toes, and they are caused by prolonged pressure or friction on the skin. Though not life-threatening, corns and calluses are often unsightly and may cause pain or disability when the skin buildup gets too thick or causes pressure on sensitive parts of the foot. A corn is thickened skin on...
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This short video discusses corns, a common toe problem that's characterized by localized areas of skin thickening. In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, explains that there are two types of corns: soft corns (which occur between the toes) and hard corns (which occur on the outside aspects of the toes). Both types of corns, notes Dr....
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In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, discusses the various types of crooked toes he sees in his Portland, OR, practice and what can be done to help straighten them out. Mallet toe, claw toe, and overlapping toe are all types of crooked toes that Dr. Ray mentions in this video. Dr. Ray also explains the underlying...
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Crooked toes are a common health problem, and there are several different types of crooked toes possible. The specific type of crooked toe a person may develop depends on the degree and direction of deviation in the affected toe’s joints. In some cases, the abnormal toe alignment is not permanent, and the toe may be realigned using natural rehabilitative techniques. Note: Crooked toes, curved toes, and bent toes are extremely...
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Diabetes is a chronic, or lifelong, condition in which the body is unable to maintain proper blood sugar levels. Foot problems are among the most common health concerns diabetics face. Several types of diabetes exist, yet they all may cause similar changes in the feet. Prolonged elevated blood sugar levels may lead to a serious health complication known as neuropathy—nerve damage or dysfunction. The nerves in the feet perform many...
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Flat feet, also known as pes valgus or pes planovalgus, is a health problem in which the foot lacks a normal arch when the affected person is standing. The arch on the foot’s inside edge (i.e., medial longitudinal arch) is the structure affected by this condition. The entire foot, including the midfoot, will touch the floor in individuals with flat feet. Flat feet is usually a painless condition, and it...
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This video discusses the condition called flat feet. There are a lot of myths surrounding flat feet, and in this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, addresses each of these myths and compares and contrasts conventional podiatric treatments with natural, conservative treatment methods. Dr. Ray notes that having flat feet is not necessarily an indication that foot problems...
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In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, dives deep into the condition called hallux limitus. Hallux limitus is a condition in which the big toe is unable to bend upward (or dorsiflex) to a proper degree. This foot health problem begins early in life in those who wear conventional footwear. Tapering toe boxes and other injurious shoe...
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Hallux is the medical term for the big toe. The big toe is one of the most important parts of the body, as it provides propulsive force during gait and helps stabilize the entire foot and body. The big toe should possess between 50 and 90 degrees of extension—also known as dorsiflexion—if it is healthy and injury free, and a person should be able to move his or her big...
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A hammertoe is a type of crooked toe that involves unnatural contracture, or bending, of the affected toe. In most cases, a hammertoe is characterized by a toe malposition in which the end of the affected toe points down while the first bone of the same toe—the proximal phalanx—points up. A hammertoe resembles an upside-down letter “v” when viewed from the side. This crooked toe syndrome usually leads to toe...
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In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, discusses the foot and toe condition called hammertoes and compares conventional podiatric treatment techniques with natural, preventive, and conservatives techniques. A hammertoe is an upward shifting of the first toe bone, and this shifting, notes Dr. Ray, is caused by two common design features in conventional shoes: Heel elevation and...
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Plantar fasciosis is a common cause of heel pain, but another problem that can cause heel pain is bursitis, specifically, infracalcaneal bursitis—irritation of the fluid-filled sac that sits directly under the heel bone. With heel bursitis, pain tends to increase with weight-bearing activity, as opposed to plantar fasciosis, a condition in which pain usually is greatest upon waking in the morning. In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist...
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Ingrown toenails, though not a life-threatening health problem, can cause significant pain or discomfort in the affected toe. In severe cases, the infection caused by an ingrown toenail may spread into the toe bones. Ingrown toenails can affect any of the toes, though the big toe is most vulnerable to this health problem (due to the forces placed on it by the toe boxes of conventional footwear). Ingrown toenails are...
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This video discusses ingrown toenails—a common (though not normal) toe problem that's often treated by surgically removing a portion of the affected nail. Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, explains why surgery usually is not necessary in treating ingrown toenails and how a natural approach (i.e., appropriate footwear, toe spacers, etc.) can treat and prevent this painful condition. Dr....
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In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, discusses the most common underlying cause of lower leg pain. Dr. Ray notes that two common design features in conventional shoes act to shorten the muscles at the front of the lower leg: Heel elevation and toe spring. Both features encourage the toes to remain in an extended position over...
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A neuroma is an often painful enlargement of one of the body’s nerves. Though neuromas can develop in any part of the body, they most commonly occur in the foot, usually in one of the intermetatarsal nerves. Interdigital neuroma is the name used to describe this nerve mass or enlargement. An interdigital neuroma is more likely to occur in women than men. A neuroma can arise between any of the...
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In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, discusses foot neuromas. A neuroma is an enlargement of a portion of a nerve and is caused by nerve irritation. Foot neuromas most commonly occur between the 3rd and 4th metatarsal bones. Dr. Ray states that foot neuromas are a relatively easy problem to treat if there is an understanding...
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In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, discusses the most common causes of foot and toe osteoarthritis. He also reviews common conventional approaches to foot osteoarthritis and compares these with more natural approaches that have proven helpful for his patient base. Learn more about this common problem, and what you can do about it, in this insightful...
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Peripheral arterial disease, or PAD, is a health problem in which plaque—a combination of calcium, fibrous tissue, fat, and cholesterol—accumulates in the arteries that deliver blood to the head, organs, and limbs. Plaque can harden the arteries over time and decrease the diameter of the blood vessels, which reduces the amount of blood reaching certain parts of the body, including the feet. PAD is a common circulatory problem—it affects more...
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Plantar fasciosis is a foot condition characterized by heel pain and pain in the plantar fascia—the strong and dense connective tissue structure on the sole of the foot that spans the foot arch. This condition has historically been called plantar fasciitis because it was believed that plantar fascia inflammation was the principal underlying cause. Plantar fasciosis is a more accurate name for this condition because it actually involves tissue degeneration...
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In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, discusses the condition commonly referred to as plantar fasciitis and explains why this foot health problem should more appropriately be called plantar fasciosis. Dr. Ray also discusses how this condition is treated using conventional versus natural approaches. Learn all about plantar fasciosis, including what you can do about it, in this helpful and...
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A plantar fibroma is a knot or nodule of fibrous tissue that develops in the medial longitudinal foot arch. This nodule grows within the plantar fascia—a strong band of connective tissue on the underside of the foot that runs from the heel to the toes. Plantar fibromas can develop in one or both feet, are noncancerous (i.e., benign), and typically will not resolve without appropriate treatment. Though a number of...
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Plantar warts, also called verruca plantaris, are a buildup of skin on the bottom of the feet. Plantar warts are benign skin growths caused by the human papillomavirus, or HPV. This virus enters the body through small cuts or breaks in the skin of the feet. The buildup of thick, irregular skin on the bottom of the feet that characterizes plantar warts is sometimes confused with calluses, due to their...
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Raynaud’s is a health problem that affects the arteries. Raynaud’s sometimes is called a disease, phenomenon, or syndrome, and it’s characterized by brief bouts of vasospasm, or the sudden narrowing of a blood vessel, which results in a reduced flow rate through that vessel. Arterial vasospasm primarily reduces blood flow to the fingers and toes. Though most people with Raynaud’s experience reduced blood flow to the fingers, a significant number...
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In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, explores the common problem known as runner's knee. Dr. Ray discusses the underlying causes of this problem and how you can adopt a preventative approach to runner's knee. Dr. Ray also explains that conventional athletic (and other) footwear is largely to blame for this painful lower extremity condition. Learn about...
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Runner’s knee is a common musculoskeletal problem in runners, jumpers, skiers, cyclists, soccer players, basketball players, volleyball players, and other athletes. Runner’s knee is a general term that describes several knee-specific disorders, including chondromalacia patella, patellofemoral malalignment, and anterior knee pain syndrome. Runner’s knee is a health problem that usually affects young, otherwise healthy individuals, and it occurs when the underside of the patella, or kneecap, becomes irritated.
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Irritation, imbalance, or fracture of two small bones—sesamoids—near the big toe is a forefoot problem that may cause pain in some individuals. These two sesamoid bones, located on the underside of the foot, directly below the first metatarsal bone—the long, thin bone that’s positioned between the ankle bones and the big toe—are approximately the size of corn kernels and act like pulleys. The sesamoid bones function like a kneecap (another...
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In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, discusses the common and painful condition known as sesamoiditis. Sesamoiditis occurs when the two floating bones beneath the base of the big toe (sesamoids) are forced to deviate from their natural position and then become inflamed or irritated. Dr. Ray looks at the underlying causes of this foot health problem...
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Sever’s disease, also known as calcaneal apophysitis, is a common heel problem affecting children. This heel bone disorder is often painful, though it’s usually temporary and causes no long-term health effects. With Sever’s disease, the Achilles tendon repeatedly pulls on the heel’s growth plate, causing microtrauma (i.e. microfractures), inflammation, and swelling in the affected area. Sever’s disease is similar to Osgood-Schlatter disease, which affects the knee. Inappropriate footwear may be...
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Shin splints are a lower extremity health problem involving pain and tenderness along or behind the inner edge of the lower two-thirds of the tibia—the larger of the two bones in the lower leg. Shin splints commonly occur following vigorous physical activity, including endurance exercise and other sports involving running. Shin splints occur when certain muscles and tendons as well as the periosteum—a membrane that covers the outer surface of...
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Shin splints are a common cause of lower leg pain in many people, especially athletes. In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, describes the two unique types of shin splints and how this painful lower leg problem is addressed using both conventional podiatric methods and natural, conservative treatments. Dr. Ray states that most people who develop shin...
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Tarsal bones are the short bones located in the midfoot and rearfoot that form a bridge between the ankle and the metatarsal bones. The tarsal tunnel is a space located just below the bony prominence on the inside of the ankle, or medial malleolus, and is made up of bone on the inside and the flexor retinaculum—a band of connective tissue—on the outside. Several important structures pass through the tarsal...
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Tendinitis occurs when tendons—the fibrous connective tissue structures that connect muscles to bones—become irritated and inflamed. Inflammation is the localized response by the body to injury or damage caused by chemical, physical, or biological agents. Most tendinitis treated by foot care professionals is caused by overuse, usually from repetitive work tasks or recreational sports. Foot and lower extremity tendinitis can significantly affect a person’s ability to perform his or her...
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Toenail fungus, also known as onychomycosis, occurs when fungi invade the toe’s nail bed and other structures. Toenail fungus can be difficult to treat, and some infections may require the use of anti-fungal medicines. Fungi, including the fungi that invade the toenails, thrive in moist, dark, and humid environments—common conditions found in many types of footwear. People of all ages may develop this health problem, though toenail fungus is most...
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