Table 1.
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.