Foot Injuries and Disorders—Cartilage Disorders

Cartilage is the tough but flexible tissue that covers the ends of your bones at a joint. It also gives shape and support to other parts of your body, such as your ears, nose and windpipe. Healthy cartilage helps you move by allowing your bones to glide over each other. It also protects bones by preventing them from rubbing against each other.

Injured, inflamed, or damaged cartilage can cause symptoms such as pain and limited movement. It can also lead to joint damage and deformity. Causes of cartilage problems include

• Tears and injuries, such as sports injuries
• Genetic factors
• Other disorders, such as some types of arthritis

Osteoarthritis results from breakdown of cartilage.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

• Costochondritis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Meniscus tears — aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Pectus carinatum (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Pectus excavatum (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Perichondritis (Medical Encyclopedia)

Each of your feet has 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 tendons, muscles, and ligaments. No wonder a lot of things can go wrong. Here are a few common problems:

• Bunions – hard, painful bumps on the big toe joint
• Corns and calluses – thickened skin from friction or pressure
• Plantar warts – warts on the soles of your feet
• Fallen arches – also called flat feet

Ill-fitting shoes often cause these problems. Aging and being overweight also increase your chances of having foot problems.

• Claw foot (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Clubfoot (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Common peroneal nerve dysfunction (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Extremity x-ray (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Flat feet (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Foot pain (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Foot sprain – aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Foot, leg, and ankle swelling (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Hand or foot spasms (Medical Encyclopedia)
• High arch (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Metatarsal fracture (acute) – aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Metatarsal stress fractures – aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Metatarsus adductus (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Morton neuroma (Medical Encyclopedia)