Your feet support your entire body weight … so when your feet are hurting or injured, it can cause a multitude of problems. The foot is a complex structure that consists of 26 bones. 33 joints and over a hundred muscles, ligaments and tendons. Many foot and ankle ailments can be treated non-surgically, whether it be with orthotics, bracing or therapy. If you do require surgery, you can feel confident that our foot and ankle specialists, Stephen Cox, MD and J. Marshall Haynie, MD are skilled in the most innovative and up to date techniques available.

What’s the difference between an orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon and a podiatrist?

The foot and ankle do not exist in isolation from the rest of the human body. Getting the right diagnosis and forming a long-term plan with someone who is qualified to manage all aspects of a patient’s care can often lead to a better patient outcome. As part of their advanced medical and surgical training, a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon is required to demonstrate medical expertise (MD), musculoskeletal expertise (orthopedic surgery), and subspecialty expertise (foot and ankle). This results in a deep understanding of how foot and ankle conditions impact the rest of the body, and vice versa, optimizing patient care and outcomes.