Common foot and ankle problems in UK primary care: Dipping a toe in the muddy water

Abstract

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Ackermann

Phisitkul

Pearce

(2018) Achilles tendinopathy – pathophysiology: state of the art. Journal of ISAKOS 3(5): 304–314. DOI: 10.1136/jisakos-2017-000164.

Bachmann

Kolb

Koller

, et al. (2003) Accuracy of Ottawa ankle rules to exclude fractures of the ankle and mid-foot: systematic review. BMJ 326(7386): 417. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.326.7386.417.

Beattie

Bobba

Bayoumi

, et al. (2008) Validation of the GALS musculoskeletal screening exam for use in primary care: a pilot study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 9: 115. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2474-9-115

Bergman

Kaiser

(2025) Stress reaction and fractures. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing. Available at: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507835/ (accessed 5 October 2025).

Bergman

Shuman

(2025) Acute ankle sprain. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing. Available at: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459212/ (accessed 5 October 2025).

Bessen

Clark

Shakib

, et al. (2009) A multifaceted strategy for implementation of the Ottawa ankle rules in two emergency departments. BMJ 339: b3056. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.b3056.

Chabchoub

Litaiem

(2022) Ingrown toenails. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing. Available at: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546697/ (accessed 5 October 2025).

Chimenti

Cychosz

Hall

, et al. (2017) Current concepts review update: insertional achilles tendinopathy. Foot Ankle International 38(10): 1160–1169. DOI: 10.1177/1071100717723127.

Cosman

Ruffing

Zion

, et al. (2013) Determinants of stress fracture risk in United States Military Academy cadets. Bone 55(2): 359–366. DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2013.04.011.

10.

Coughlin

Jones

(2007) Hallux valgus: Demographics, etiology, and radiographic assessment. Foot & Ankle International 28(7): 759–777. DOI: 10.3113/FAI.2007.0759.

11.

Dulski

Edwards

(2023) Paronychia. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing. Available at: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544307 (accessed 5 October 2025).

12.

Fredericson

Jennings

Beaulieu

, et al. (2006) Stress fractures in athletes. Topics in Magnetic Resonance Imaging 17(5): 309–325. DOI: 10.1097/RMR.0b013e3180421c8c.

13.

Herzog

Kerr

Marshall

, et al. (2019) Epidemiology of ankle sprains and chronic ankle instability. Journal of Athletic Training 54(6): 603–610. DOI: 10.4085/1062-6050-447-17.

14.

Jefferies

(2025) The SOCRATES acronym in history taking. Available at: https://geekymedics.com/the-socrates-acronym-in-history-taking (accessed 5 October 2025).

15.

Kiel

Kaiser

(2024) Tarsal tunnel syndrome. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing. Available at: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513273/ (accessed 5 October 2025).

16.

Kuhn

Alvi

(2023) Hallux valgus. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553092/ (accessed 5 October 2025).

17.

Levitsky

Vosseller

Popkin

(2020) Lace bite: a review of tibialis anterior tendinopathy in ice hockey players. Translational Sports Medicine 3(4): 296–299. DOI: 10.1002/tsm2.152.

18.

Lewis

Cook

(2014) Fluoroquinolones and tendinopathy: a guide for athletes and sports clinicians and a systematic review of the literature. Journal of Athletic Training 49(3): 422–427. DOI: 10.4085/1062-6050-49.2.09.

19.

Mailuhu

Verhagen

van Ochten

, et al. (2015) The trAPP-study: Cost-effectiveness of an unsupervised e-health supported neuromuscular training program for the treatment of acute ankle sprains in general practice: design of a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 16: 78. DOI: 10.1186/s12891-015-0539-9.

20.

Mandell

Khurana

Smith

(2017) Stress fractures of the foot and ankle, part 2: site-specific etiology, imaging, and treatment, and differential diagnosis. Skeletal Radiology 46(9): 1165–1186. DOI: 10.1007/s00256-017-2632-7.

21.

Menz

Harrison

Britt

, et al. (2020) Management of hallux valgus in general practice in Australia. Arthritis Care and Research (Hoboken) 72(11): 1536–1542. DOI: 10.1002/acr.24075.

22.

Morrissey

Cotchett

Said J’Bari

, et al. (2021) Management of plantar heel pain: a best practice guide informed by a systematic review, expert clinical reasoning and patient values. British Journal of Sports Medicine 55(19): 1106–1118. DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2019-101970.

23.

Nguyen

Hillstrom

, et al. (2010) Factors associated with hallux valgus in a population-based study of older women and men: The MOBILIZE Boston Study. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 18(1): 41–46. DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2009.07.008.

24.

NICE (2020a) Clinical knowledge summary. Achilles tendinopathy: scenario: management. Available at: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/achilles-tendinopathy/management/management (accessed 5 October 2025).

25.

NICE (2020b) Clinical knowledge summary. Morton’s neuroma. Available at: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/mortons-neuroma/ (accessed 5 October 2025).

26.

NICE (2024) Clinical knowledge summary. Plantar fasciitis: scenario: management of plantar fasciitis. Available at: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/plantar-fasciitis/management/management (accessed 5 October 2025).

27.

NICE (2025a) Clinical knowledge summary. Paronychia – acute. Available at: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/paronychia-acute/ (accessed 5 October 2025).

28.

NICE (2025b) Clinical knowledge summary. Sprains and strains: scenario: management. Available at: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/sprains-strains/management/management (accessed 5 October 2025).

29.

Park

Singh

(2012) The management of ingrowing toenails. BMJ: British Medical Journal 344: e2089. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.e2089.

30.

RCGP (2025) Clinical topic guide: Musculoskeletal health. Available at: www.rcgp.org.uk/mrcgp-exams/gp-curriculum/musculoskeletal-health (accessed 14 October 2025).

31.

Rhim

Kwon

Park

, et al. (2021) A systematic review of systematic reviews on the epidemiology, evaluation, and treatment of plantar fasciitis. Life (Basel, Switzerland) 11(12): 1287. DOI: 10.3390/life11121287.

32.

Tedeschi

(2024) An overview and critical analysis of the Graston technique for foot-related conditions: a scoping review. Manuelle Medizin 62(1): 22–28. DOI: 10.1007/s00337-023-01018-w.

33.

Tedeschi

(2025) Baxter’s nerve: The hidden culprit of chronic heel pain. Neurological Sciences 46(9): 4685–4689. DOI: 10.1007/s10072-025-08253-0.

34.

Uquillas

Guss

Ryan

, et al. (2015) Everything Achilles: knowledge update and current concepts in management: AAOS exhibit selection. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery American Volume 97(14): 1187–1195. DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.O.00002.