Keep moving | How should we deal with these common foot and ankle diseases?

How to deal with common foot and ankle problems

The ankle joint is one of the largest joints in the human body , connecting our foot to our lower leg. This complex joint is made up of multiple bones, muscles, ligaments, and nerves that work together to support our body weight, allowing us to walk, run, jump, and perform a variety of other activities.

The main components of the ankle joint include the tibia, fibula, and talus . The tibia and fibula are the two long bones in the lower leg, which are connected together at the ankle by the talus. In addition, the ankle joint also includes many other small bones, such as the tarsal bones and metatarsal bones, which together form the sole of our foot.

The functions of the foot and ankle joint mainly include three aspects: stability, flexibility and load-bearing capacity.

Common diseases of the foot and ankle joints

Although the ankle joint is very strong, it is still susceptible to various diseases. According to the different pathological tissues and different causes of the disease , ankle diseases can be divided into the following categories:

1. Foot and ankle deformities: hallux valgus, hammer toe, crossed toes, rheumatoid arthritis, flat feet, high arches, equinovarus, etc.;

2. Osteoarthritis of the foot and ankle: bunion, metatarsophalangeal arthritis, midfoot osteoarthritis, subtalar arthritis;

3. Chronic pain injuries of the foot and ankle: acute ankle sprain, chronic ankle instability, talar cartilage injury, plantar fasciitis, Heel pain, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, etc.

Rehabilitation of foot and ankle disorders

Surgery

Patients who fail to respond to conservative treatment may consider surgical treatment, which includes minimally invasive arthroscopy, open osteotomy, joint fusion, ligament reconstruction and other surgical methods.

Conservative treatment

1. Ultrasound therapy

It treats pain through mechanical, thermal and chemical effects. It also has the effect of dissolving nodules caused by injections and loosening adhesions of tendons or nerves. It is often used for pain caused by adhesions and tissue contracture .

2. Personalized custom orthosis

(1) Ankle support:

As a lightweight ankle protective orthosis, it is suitable for patients with ankle sprains, ankle ligament injuries, ankle instability , etc. It can limit ankle joint activities, prevent sprains caused by ankle inversion and inversion, reduce pressure on injured ankle parts, strengthen the ankle joint and promote the healing of injured soft tissues.

(2) Orthopedic insoles:

Orthopedic insoles are designed and developed according to the principles of biomechanics . They have the functions of supporting the arch of the foot, improving the function of the sole of the foot, relieving the pressure on the sole of the foot, correcting foot deformities, relieving foot pain, and maintaining a reasonable force on the human trunk . In addition, wearing orthopedic insoles can reduce the risk of ankle injuries for users.

(3) Ankle-foot orthosis:

As an orthosis that controls the movement of the ankle joint, the ankle-foot orthosis can stabilize the ankle joint and reduce the load on the limbs by limiting the range of motion of the ankle joint, thereby supporting and protecting the injured part .

(4) Inflatable walking boots:

By limiting the range of motion of the ankle joint , it stabilizes the ankle joint, relieves pain, and reduces the load on the limbs. It is suitable for Achilles tendon rupture, stable ankle fracture, ankle sprain, forefoot/metatarsal fracture, distal fibula fracture, etc.

3. Kinesiology Tape

Kinesiology tape is an elastic, drug-free, ultra-thin, breathable tape that can relieve pain, reduce swelling, improve circulation, speed up recovery from muscle injuries, and support and relax soft tissues .

Diagnosis of foot and ankle disorders

In order to provide the most accurate diagnosis and the best treatment plan, our team's gait analysis laboratory is equipped with the most advanced lower limb biomechanics analysis equipment currently available.

①Mirror pressure test equipment: Mirror pressure test uses the principle of mirror reflection to intuitively observe the plantar pressure, arch type and biomechanical line of the lower limbs.

② Plantar scanning test equipment: Through 3D technology and white light mode projection, a 3D CAD model of the foot can be obtained through reverse engineering processing, which can accurately evaluate the abnormal conditions of the patient's lower limbs and obtain various foot data, such as foot shape, arch index, degree of inversion and valgus, etc.

③ Portable gait analysis equipment: Patients wear insoles equipped with sensors to perform a one-minute walking test, which can not only obtain the spatiotemporal and phase parameters of their walking process , but also obtain dynamic parameters , providing an objective and quantitative scientific basis, reducing the demand for space and manpower, and making gait assessment more efficient.

Through these advanced equipment, our team is able to provide each patient with the most accurate diagnosis and the most appropriate treatment plan, helping them recover their health and improve their quality of life as soon as possible.

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If you have any problems with your feet and ankles, you are welcome to come and consult us. Let us move towards a healthy path together!!!