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. 2017 Jan 18;8(1):21–29. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v8.i1.21

Table 1.

Correlations between the anatomical site of the pain and the possible underlying causes[6]

Location of pain Common possible pathology
Anterior ankle pain Degenerative disease Impingement
Ankle joint capsule injury ex. Sport injury with maximum ankle joint plantar flexion
Medial pain below the medial malleolus Sinus tarsi syndrome Subtalar degenerative changes Tarsal coalition of mid facet Spring ligament or deltoid ligament pathology Tibialis posterior pathology or medial impingement
Postero-medial pain Tibialis posterior tendonitis Flexor hallucis longus Tarsal tunnel syndrome
Posterior pain Achilles tendinopathy Posterior impingement Os trigonum pathology
Postero-lateral pain Peroneal tendon
Lateral pain Stress fracture of distal fibula ATFL injury Lateral impingement Sinus tarsi syndrome Subtalar pathology Calcaneal fracture malunion
Heel pain Plantar fasciitis Calcaneal stress fracture Entrapment of first branch of lateral plantar nerve Fat pad atrophy/contusion Tarsal tunnel syndrome Foreign body reaction Plantar fascia rupture
Mid foot pain Degenerative disease Post traumatic arthritis Tarsal bones stress fracture Ligament injury ex Lisfranc injury Insertional tendinopathy of peroneal brevis
Forefoot pain Metatarsalgia Morton neuropathy Stress fracture Freiberg disease Metatarsophalangeal joint synovitis Nail pathology
Forefoot pain - big toe Hallux valgus/rigidus Inflamed bunion Sesamoiditis Sesamoid fracture
Forefoot pain - 2nd, 3rd and 4th toe Claw toe Hammer toe Mallet toe
Forefoot pain - little toe Inflamed bunionette

ATFL: Anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament.