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Content

Foot and Ankle Problems

Foot and ankle problems like Achilles tendinitis and plantar fasciitis can sideline you from the activities you love. Get proper care and treatment to restore your active life.

Female hiker feet

Types of Diseases

  • Achilles Tendinitis
  • Achilles Tendon Rupture
  • Ankle Sprain
  • Bunions
  • Hammer Toe
  • Ingrown Toenail
  • Plantar Fasciitis

Foot and Ankle Facts and Stats

You have 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 tendons, muscles and ligaments in each foot. No wonder 75 percent of Americans experience a foot or ankle problem at some time point.

  • Arthritis, injury and poorly fitting shoes cause most foot pain issues.
  • Women are four times more likely to develop bunions and three times more likely to have corns, primarily thanks to fashionable shoes.
  • Surveys show that obese people are 41 percent more likely to have a foot problem and 16 percent more likely to develop severe foot pain.
  • Just seven in 100,000 people ever rupture their Achilles tendon. The rate soars among athletes, and nearly half of competitive runners develop tendinopathy at some point.
  • Plantar heel pain accounts for more than 1 million visits to the doctor each year. Although plantar fasciitis affects just 7 to 10 percent of Americans, it accounts for 25 percent of running injuries.

Patient Information

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Interested in becoming a Sutter patient? Here’s what you need to know about health plans, choosing a doctor and how to get started today.

 
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Find a Foot and Ankle Specialist

A Foot to Stand On

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Foot and Ankle Care

Many of our more than 400 orthopedic surgeons specialize in repairing foot and ankle injuries.

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Sports Medicine

Get help for common foot problems caused by exercise from experienced sports medicine doctors.

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Tendon and Ligament Repair

Injuries of the ankle and foot ligaments and tendons are particularly common among athletes.

Ask an Expert

Carolyn E. McAloon

Carolyn E. McAloon, DPM

Brown & Toland Physicians

What causes corns on feet, and is surgery always required to remove them?

Corns are areas of hard, thick skin and are caused by pressure. The pressure is usually from our shoes, but can also be caused by the toes pressing on each other. There is often an underlying prominence such as... continue reading  about  What causes corns on feet, and is surgery always required to remove them?

Carolyn E. McAloon

Carolyn E. McAloon, DPM

Brown & Toland Physicians

What tips should I follow when I'm shopping for shoes?

Here are my shoe buying tips:Have your feet measured while you're standing. As adults our bones don't grow longer, but as we mature our ligaments loosen and our feet splay, especially following pregnancy. So ou... continue reading  about  What tips should I follow when I'm shopping for shoes?

Carolyn E. McAloon

Carolyn E. McAloon, DPM

Brown & Toland Physicians

My feet smell pretty stinky at the end of the day. What causes this, and is there anything I can do to prevent it?

This is a very common foot problem, especially in the summertime. Foot odor is most commonly caused by bacteria or fungus and is often associated with sweaty feet. If you do suffer from athlete's foot or fungal... continue reading  about  My feet smell pretty stinky at the end of the day. What causes this, and is there anything I can do to prevent it?

Carolyn E. McAloon

Carolyn E. McAloon, DPM

Brown & Toland Physicians

What is the cause of numbness of toes and is there anything that will help this?

There are many causes of numb toes. There are treatments that can help once the correct diagnosis is made. Numbness is usually a symptom of an unhappy nerve. Some causes are reversible and some are not. There m... continue reading  about  What is the cause of numbness of toes and is there anything that will help this?

Alexander M. Reyzelman

Alexander M. Reyzelman, DPM

Brown & Toland Physicians

For the past five to six years, the balls of my feet hurt and burn all the time. I've tried inserts, Dansko shoes, foot soaks, as well as pain and nerve medications. Any suggestions?

Pain on the ball of the foot has many possible causes. It's important to find the underlying cause. Is it a musculoskeletal problem (muscle, tendon, ligament, bone or local nerve entrapment)? Or is it a neurolo... continue reading  about  For the past five to six years, the balls of my feet hurt and burn all the time. I've tried inserts, Dansko shoes, foot soaks, as well as pain and nerve medications. Any suggestions?

Ask the Expert Team

Ask the Expert Team

Sutter Health

I find as I have gotten older (mid 40's), my feet get sore easily and in my workout shoes, I now need extra support. Is this typical? Do feet age like the rest of us, and is there anything I can do to better support my feet?

Our feet undergo changes throughout our lives. This is because the twenty six bones are supported and held together by a complex myriad of ligaments, tendons and muscles. As we age, and especially if we gain we... continue reading  about  I find as I have gotten older (mid 40's), my feet get sore easily and in my workout shoes, I now need extra support. Is this typical? Do feet age like the rest of us, and is there anything I can do to better support my feet?

Ask the Expert Team

Ask the Expert Team

Sutter Health

What can I do to get rid of the corns and calluses on my feet?

Corns and calluses result from pressure or friction against the skin. Corns on top of your toes are a good indicator that you need to change to shoes with wider and deeper toe boxes. If corns and calluses are o... continue reading  about  What can I do to get rid of the corns and calluses on my feet?

Carolyn E. McAloon

Carolyn E. McAloon, DPM

Brown & Toland Physicians

I have a bunion on my large toe that becomes painful and swollen, especially when I wear high heels. What caused this, and how can I fix it?

Bunions are often described as a bump on the side of the big toe, but they are more than that. The visible bump is actually the result of the gradual drifting of the bones of the great toe. Bunions are most oft... continue reading  about  I have a bunion on my large toe that becomes painful and swollen, especially when I wear high heels. What caused this, and how can I fix it?

Arfan Din

Arfan Din, D.O.

Sutter Medical Group

I have severe Achilles tendinitis and can't even go on long walks for exercise. What workouts would you recommend while I recover? It's been weeks since I've broken a good sweat.

Achilles tendonitis is a tough condition to treat since many aerobic activities can aggravate the condition and one of the treatment strategies is to avoid these activities.Aerobic conditioning is incredibly va... continue reading  about  I have severe Achilles tendinitis and can't even go on long walks for exercise. What workouts would you recommend while I recover? It's been weeks since I've broken a good sweat.

Musculoskeletal Disorders Research

Sutter Health Musculoskeletal Disorders Research
Musculoskeletal disorders are injuries or pain in the body's joints, ligaments, muscles, nerves, tendons and other structures that support the arms, legs, neck and back. Specific disorders include such things as carpal tunnel syndrome, epicondylitis and tendinitis. It can also include cuts and fractures due to accidents. Research in this area seeks to improve the treatment of disorders and the prevention of accidents, especially in the work environment.

Sutter Health Musculoskeletal Disorders Research Sutter Health Musculoskeletal Disorders Research

Health and Wellness

Choose the Right Athletic Shoe

Choose the Right Athletic Shoe

Do your hard-working feet a favor and invest in supportive, well-fitting exercise shoes.

Choose the Right Athletic Shoe

Experts Who Partner With You

Mother and baby feet

Podiatric Services

The Sutter Health network provides foot and ankle specialists close to your home. Learn about today’s treatment options for Achilles tendinitis or ruptures, foot pain, bunions and other problems.

Doctor Profiles

The following doctors are part of the Sutter Health network. Learn about the doctors on this site
Kevin M. Roth, M.D.

Kevin M. Roth, M.D.

  • Sports Medicine

  • Orthopedic Surgery

Lenita Williamson, M.D.

Lenita Williamson, M.D.

  • Orthopedic Surgery

Scott M. Porter, M.D.

Scott M. Porter, M.D.

  • Orthopedic Surgery

Debbie  Y. Dang, M.D., Ph.D.

Debbie Y. Dang, M.D., Ph.D.

  • Orthopedic Surgery

Walter Pyka, M.D.

Walter Pyka, M.D.

  • Orthopedic Surgery

Cyrus E. Taghavi, M.D.

Cyrus E. Taghavi, M.D.

  • Orthopedic Surgery

David S H Chang, M.D.

David S H Chang, M.D.

  • Orthopedic Surgery

  • Sports Medicine

Basil Alwattar, M.D.

Basil Alwattar, M.D.

  • Orthopedic Surgery

Brad A. Zwahlen, M.D.

Brad A. Zwahlen, M.D.

  • Orthopedic Surgery

  • Sports Medicine

View All Related Doctors

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