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Your Foot Book
GLOSSARY
OF TERMS
Achilles
Tendonitis
Irritation and inflammation of the tendon that attaches the
calf muscle to the back of the heel bone.
American
Podiatric Association
AOFAS
American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society of the American
Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Arthogram
An
X-ray using water soluble dye injected into a joint to discover
abnormalities. Sometime injuries to adjacent ligaments can be detected.
Arthodesis
A
procedure to solidly fuse a joint.
Athlete's
Foot
Fungal
Infection often caused by Trichopyton Rubrum often picked up from
athlete's walking barefoot in locker rooms. Treatment is to dry
out the web spaces and us and antifungal such a Tinactin or Lotramin.
Also called Tinea Pedis.
Bunionette
A
bunion of the fifth of small toe.
Bunions
Painful
enlargements of the joint of the big toe, called a bunionette on
the fifth toe.
Bursa
A
sac containing a tiny amount of fluid present where friction needs
to be minimized, for example, a tendon of skin gliding over a bony
prominence. Somewhat like a deflated balloon containing several
drops of oil. An example in the body is the loose skin behind the
elbow.
Bursitis
Inflammation
of a bursal sac. See bursa.
Calluses/
Corns
Areas
of thick, dead layers of skin which develop in response to friction
against the skin. They are often caused by friction and pressure
from skin rubbing against bony areas when wearing shoes or walking
barefoot.
Cavus
Foot
A
foot with high arches. Also known as Pes Cavus.
Chiropractic
A
form of skeletal manipulation often associated with the neck or
spine. There is little evidence to support any therapeutic value
for foot disorders.
Chiropody
See
podiatry.
Claw
Toe
Curling
of the lesser toes in which both small joints of a tore are flexed.
Corn
A
hyperkeratosis or thickening of the normal keratin skin layer is
response to friction or pressure.
Dorsiflexion
Bending
the foot upward or toward the shin.
Edema
Swelling.
Flatfoot
A
deformity of the feet, caused by weakened muscles and ligaments
of the arch whereby the arch falls or is flat the ground.
Gout
Arthritic
condition caused by excessive uric acid in the bloodstream. May
result in stiffness and occasionally soft material deposits in the
skin.
Great
Toe
The
largest toe of the foot. Also know as the Hallux or as the first
toe.
Haglund's
Deformity
A
bony prominence of the heel near the Achilles Tendon. Often irritated
by wearing moccasin style shoes, high heels or ladies pumps and
hence commonly know as "pump bumps".
Hallux
The
Great Toe or largest toe of either foot.
Hallux
Valgus
A
lateral deviation or bending of the Hallux or Great Toe at the Metatarsal
joint towards the outside or laterally (Valgus) or smallest toe
of the same foot. Commonly know as a bunion.
Hallux
Rigidus
Stiffness
or rigidity of the great toe at the metatarsal toe joint.
Hammer
Toe
A
condition, usually stemming from muscle imbalance in which the big
toe is bent in a claw-like position.
Heel
Spurs
Painful
growths of bone on the underside, front of the heel bone.
Hyperkeratosis
Calluses,
soft corns and hard corns resulting from friction or pressure against
the skin.
Ingrown
Toenail
Nails
whose corners or sides dig painfully into the skin of the toes.
Instep
The
arched middle portion of the foot, especially the upper, dorsal,
or top portion or aspect.
Inter-phalangeal
Joints
Joints
between the bones of the toes or phalanges.
Lateral
Oriented
toward the outside of the body, therefore referring to the outside
edge of the foot or ankle. See Medial.
Lesser
Toes
All
toes other than the Great Toe. Numbered two through five starting
next to the Great Toe.
Ligament
Attached
to a bone to stabilize a joint.
Mallet
Toe
A
toe deformity whereby the last joint of the toe is flexed. Typically
leading the development of a painful callus at the tip of the effected
toe.
Medial
Oriented
toward the center line of the body, therefore referring to the inside
edge of the foot or ankle. See Lateral.
Metatarsals
They are bones which form the front of the foot’s instep. There
are five parallel metatarsal bones in each foot, forming the ball
of the foot. The metatarsals connect to the toe bones or phalanges
at the metatarso-phalangelal joints (MTP) or what is commonly referred
to as the metatarsal heads or joints. Numbered one through five
in the same manner as the toes with the largest or great toe being
number one. Together with the tarsals, they form the arch of the
foot.
Metatarsalgia
Pain
under the metatarsal heads in the forefoot.
Navicular
Bone
One
of five bones of the midfoot. Best referred to as the tarsal navicular.
Neuroma
Enlarged
benign growths of nerves. They are most common between the third
and fourth toes. Caused by tissue rubbing against and irritating
the nerves
Orthopaedics/orthopedics
The
medical specialty devoted to the diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation
and prevention of injuries of your musculoskeletal system (bones
& muscles). Practiced by medical doctors who have specialized
in bones and muscles. See Orthopaedist/orthopedist next.
Orthopaedists/orthopedist
An
orthopaedic physician/surgeon with up to 14 years of formal education
including four years in medical school, five years in orthopaedic
residency at a major medical center, and may include a specialized
fellowship in a particular area such as foot and ankle. See AOFAS.
See orthopaedics.
Orthotic
Orthotic
describes anything to do with orthotics, the use or application
of orthoses to protect, to restore, or to improve functioning of
the movable parts of the body.
See below
also: Orthotics; Orthosis
Orthotics
Orthotics
is the field of knowledge related to the rehabilitation of injured
or impaired joints or muscles through the use of an artificial support,
known as an orthosis, when the affected bodily part itself is still
present.
Orthosis,
Orthoses plural
Orthosis
is an orthopedic appliance or apparatus used to support, align,
prevent, or correct deformities or to improve the function of movable
parts of the body.
Pedorthotist
A
person with specialized knowledge of orthopaedic footwear and foot
orthotics.
Phalanges
The
fourteen small bones that make up the forefoot or toes. There are
two phalanges in each large toe, and three in each smaller toe.
Pes
Cavus
A
foot with high arches.
Pes
Planus
Flat
Feet. See Flatfoot.
PFA(Pedorthic
Footwear Association)
Plantar
The
sole or bottom surface of the foot.
Plantar
Fascia
Strong
tissue attached to the heel extending along the sole or plantar
surface of the foot attaching at the metatarsal heads.
Plantar
Warts
Condition
on the sole of the foot caused by a virus which may invade the foot
through cuts and breaks in the skin. Walking barefoot on dirty pavements
or littered ground can expose you to this sometimes painful skin
infection.
Plantarflexion
Bending the foot downward or away from the shin.
Podiatry
The
study of conditions and function of the human foot by persons who
are not medical doctors or M.D.'s.
Podiatrist
A person who has specialized in podiatry. Not a medical doctor or
M.D., but given the honorific of Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM).
Pronation
Turning
out of the hindfoot which helps the body to absorb shock when walking
or running. Some pronation is normal.
Prosthesis
A
device which replaces or substitutes for a part of the body.
Rheumatism
A
non specific term for joint pain.
Rheumatoid
Arthritis
An
arthritic condition with joint pain. Often beginning with the feet
and accompanies by selling, discomfort, stiffness of the joints
and tendons, and pain.
Shin
Splints
Leg
pain around the tibia (shin bone) often occurring after a period
of physical activity such as running. May be caused by inflammation
of the area of leg muscle attachment to the bone.
Splay
Foot
An
abnormally wide foot.
Spur
A
bony enlargement caused from debris when irregular joint surface
grind against each other.
Supination
Turning
of the Foot Inward. The opposite of pronation.
Talipes
Also
known as clubfoot. This serious condition of the foot is caused
by shortening of muscles and tendons and is usually a congenital
deformity.
Tarsals
The
bones which make up the heel (hindfoot) and the back of the instep
(midfoot). There are seven tarsals in each foot. Together with the
metatarsals, they form the arch of the foot. The tarsals are the
calcaneus (heel bone), talus, navicular, cuboid, and three cuniform
bones.
Tarsal
Tunnel Syndrome
Irritation
of the tibial nerve behind the medial malleous (inside ankle bone).
Tendon
A
band or strong fibers which connect muscle to bone.
Tendonitis
Inflammation
of the tendon tissues or sheath around a tendon.
Tibia
The long bone of the lower leg runs from the ankle to the shin facing
the front of the body.
Valgus
Where
alignment of body part is angled to the outside or laterally.
Varus
Where
alignment of body parts is angled to the inside or medially.
This material does not constitute medical advice.
It is intended for informational purposes only. Foot Menders will
not answer medical questions via email. Please consult a physician
for specific treatment recommendations.
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