The foot & ankle

The foot has 26 bones, 33 joints, over 100 ligaments, tendons and muscles. The foot has a nerve and blood supply. The bottom of the foot has layers of muscles and tissue that runs underneath. Every part has its own job to help us walk, run and move in different ways.

Because of the high demands we place on our feet each day, sometimes pain can occur. This page will help you to understand why this happens and what you can do to help your foot pain.

We recommend you seek medical advice and assessment should any of the following occur:

  • If you have been involved in a trauma and you are experiencing severe pain with a reduction of movement
  • If after a few weeks your pain is no better with over-the-counter pain relief
  • If you have symptoms such as pins and needles, weakness, or, numbness in your arms or legs
  • Dizziness, nausea, fainting, difficulty with speech or swallowing, and new clumsiness, for example tripping over your own feet
  • If you have severe pain at night, that does not get better with movement to try to make yourself more comfortable
  • If you are unable to weight bear through your leg because of the pain