Foot & Ankle
The foot and ankle contain 26 bones, 33 joints, and dozens of muscles – all surrounded by a complex network of blood vessels, nerves, tendons and ligaments. The ligaments and muscles help stabilize the ankle joint, and can sustain tremendous amounts of pressure.
While strong and flexible, ligaments can sometimes stretch or tear due to a sudden movement, such as rolling the ankle to one side. Symptoms include pain, swelling, bruising and discomfort especially when trying to stand on the affected ankle. Sprains can be mild, moderate or severe, depending upon whether the ligaments are stretched or torn. In addition, severe sprains can take as long as three months or longer to heal.
There are many other conditions that can affect the foot and ankle area including, but not limited to, tendonitis, gout, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and common sports-related injuries. If you believe you have injured your foot or ankle you should speak with an orthopedic physician who can determine the best course of medical treatment.