Foot and Ankle
The human foot combines complexity and strength and literally grounds us. The average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day. These steps cover several miles and add up to 115,000 miles in a lifetime -- more than four times the circumference of the globe! The ankle provides foundation, and acts as a shock absorber, as well as a mechanism for propulsion. The foot can also sustain enormous pressure and is flexible and resiliant.
The foot is an intricate structure containing 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments, and 19 muscles. Tendons hold the structure together and allow movement in a variety of ways. The foot's components work together, providing the body with support, balance, and mobility and no two feet are the same, not even the two on your own body. Your feet can actually be different shoe sizes and even if they're evenly matched, they might be different sizes and different shapes at different times in your life. The health of your feet is tied directly to the things that affect your entire body including, pregnancy (for women), diseases like diabetes and arthritis, or disability, and aging. Because of these irregularities and the changes that every person encounters during life, there are several foot problems that can often occur. If a structural flaw or malfunction is present in any one part, the result can be the development of problems elsewhere in the body.
One of your best precautions against foot problems is to be aware of all the factors that determine whether your feet are healthy or hurting. It isn't normal for your feet to hurt. Whether it is age-related, hereditary problems, chronic illness, or lifestyle factors, it is important to pay attention to your feet and seek treatment when they let you know something isn't right.
Seventy-five percent of Americans will experience foot problems, varying from minor to severe at one time or another in their lives. At South Palm Orthopedics our foot and ankle doctor is a board certified, fellowship trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in a broad spectrum of conditions affecting the foot and ankle. His expertise includes the latest in surgical and non-surgical techniques to treat everything from arthritis to diabetic foot. He is also one of a handful of surgeons performing ankle replacements. Our fellowship trained surgeon is an established authority on foot and ankle problems with specific expertise in:
Conditions
Treatments
Please visit our Patient Education Library to learn more about conditions affecting the foot and ankle.
Do you suffer from foot or ankle problems? Contact South Palm Orthopedics in Delray Beach today at 561-496-6622 or request an appointment online.
Learn more about our Foot and ankle expert Dr. Brian Coleman.