Foot and Ankle Tendonitis: Symptoms and Treatment

Tendonitis is what happens when the tendon gets irritated from being moved outside of its regular motion. In fact, the word itself literally means, “overuse and inflammation of the tendon.” The tendon is the area of your body that’s connected to the muscle which causes your body to move as a whole. The tendons themselves come in all shapes and sizes, but when tendonitis begins to affect the foot and ankles, our doctors at Cumberland Foot and Ankle Center can treat this condition.  

Foot tendonitis can sometimes occur in athletes, runners and people who are constantly on their feet. Foot tendonitis is a classic overuse injury and impacts a specific tendon within the foot, the posterior tibial tendon. Most commonly, patients with this condition complain of pain and swelling on the inward side of the foot and ankle, and occasionally have an unsteady gait. Treatment varies by each individual case however, the initial treatment of posterior tibial foot tendonitis is focused on resting the tendon to allow for healing.

If you have further questions about tendonitis, please give us a call. To learn more about tendonitis as well as other conditions we treat, visit www.myhappyfoot.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our podiatrists at Cumberland Foot and Ankle Center in Somerset, KY, call 606-679-2773. 

What Is a Heel Spur and How Do I Treat It?

The heel bone is the largest bone in the foot therefore, it absorbs the most amounts of shock and pressure. A heel spur develops as an abnormal growth of the heel bone and is caused when the plantar fascia pulls away from the heel area, causing a bony protrusion. This stretching of the plantar fascia is usually the result of flat feet, but people with high arches can develop them too. If heel pain has you bothersome, our doctors at Cumberland Foot and Ankle Center can provide you with relief.

Heel spurs under the sole of the foot are associated with inflammation of the plantar fascia (fasciitis), the “bowstring-like” tissue stretching underneath the sole that attaches at the heel. Plantar heel spurs cause localized tenderness and pain made worse when stepping down on the heel. Heel spurs are diagnosed based on the history of pain and tenderness localized to the area of bony involvement. The key for proper treatment of these spurs is determining what is causing the stretch in the plantar fascia. Common treatments include stretching exercises, foot orthotics and in some cases losing weight. In addition, anti-inflammatory medications are often helpful.

If you have further questions about heel spurs, please give us a call. To learn more about heel spurs as well as other conditions we treat, visit www.myhappyfoot.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our podiatrists at Cumberland Foot and Ankle Center in Somerset, KY, call 606-679-2773. 

How to Give Yourself a Foot Self-Exam

At Cumberland Foot and Ankle Center, we want you to put your best foot forward at all times and this starts with self-exams. Healthy feet are important for feeling good and staying active, so if you neglect them, it can lead to unnecessary pain and other foot problems in the future. Fortunately, it’s easy to keep your feet healthy. Here are just a few things to look for when self-examining yours.

• Balance – a good test for balance involves standing on one foot, with your arms out to the side and your eyes close. If you are less than 30 years old, you should be able to balance for 15 seconds, 30 to 40 years old for 12 seconds, 40 to 50 years old for 10 seconds and over 50 years old for seven seconds. This can be improved with exercises.


• Circulation. Look at the color of your toes. Do they look like a normal nail color or are they leaning towards red, white, purple, or blue? Press down on the nail of your big toe until the color blanches. Now let go and allow the blood flow to return to your toe. The return of normal color should take 2 to 5 seconds in a person with average circulation.


• Flexibility. How flexible are your toes? Try to pick up a marble or a small dish towel with your toes. To test your ankle flexibility, hang your heel off of a stair. Now let the heel go below the level of the stair. If this causes pain, stop the test. If your heel goes below the level of the stair without causing strain in your calf, that is a good sign.


• Check your skin for calluses, blisters, or areas of irritation.

If you have further questions about foot examinations, please give us a call. To learn more about foot self-examination guidelines and conditions we treat, visit www.myhappyfoot.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our podiatrists at Cumberland Foot and Ankle Center in Somerset, KY, call 606-679-2773.