Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute
Butte & Anaconda(406) 782-2278 Bozeman, Ennis & Harlowton(406) 587-8478

Front desks: Mon–Thu 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM · Fri 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM. For anything urgent, call rather than send a form.

Request Appointment

Foot & Ankle Health Library

Plain-language guides from Big Sky Foot & Ankle on the problems we see every day across Southwest Montana, with every article sourced to trusted medical organizations.

Toes 5 articlesBall & arch 6 articlesHeel 6 articles

Where does it hurt?

Tap the footprint or pick an area to see the articles that cover it.

All articles 39 Toes 5 Ball & arch 6 Heel 6 Ankle & lower leg 6 Skin & nails 7 Whole-foot care 9

Sudden or severe pain, a wound that won't heal, or signs of infection? Don't wait on an article. Call Butte & Anaconda at (406) 782-2278 or Bozeman, Ennis & Harlowton at (406) 587-8478.

Latest article

Foot Care Ankle & lower leg

Slipping on Ice: How to Protect Your Feet and Ankles This Winter

How to lower your risk of falling on ice with the right boots, traction cleats, careful steps and balance exercises, plus when an ankle injury needs care.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 6 min read

All articles

Foot Conditions Ball & arch

Ball of Foot Pain (Metatarsalgia): Why It Feels Like a Marble in Your Shoe

What causes pain in the ball of the foot, from capsulitis to Morton's neuroma and stress fractures, home care that may help, and when to get it checked.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 6 min read
Podiatry Whole-foot care

What Does a Podiatrist Do? Training, Conditions and When to Go

What a podiatrist is, how they are trained, the foot and ankle problems they treat, and the signs that it is time to get your feet checked.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 6 min read
Foot Care Heel

Cracked Heels: Why They Happen and How to Care for Them

Dry, cracked heels are common in cold, dry weather. Learn what causes them, how to care for them at home and when cracks need a closer look.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 5 min read
Foot Conditions Ball & arch

Flat Feet and Pigeon Toes in Kids: What's Normal and When to Get Them Checked

Flat feet and in-toeing are common in young children and often improve with growth. Learn what's typical, what doesn't help and when to get a child checked.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 5 min read
Foot Conditions Ankle & lower leg

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome: Why Your Inner Ankle and Sole Burn or Tingle

Burning, tingling or numbness along the inner ankle and sole can come from a pinched nerve. Learn the causes, common treatments and why early care matters.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 5 min read
Foot Conditions Toes

Turf Toe: What a Big Toe Sprain Feels Like and When to Get It Checked

Turf toe is a sprain of the big toe joint from bending it back too far. Learn the symptoms, grades, home care and when to call right away.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 6 min read
Foot Care Skin & nails

Corns and Calluses: Why They Form and How to Care for Them Safely

Corns and calluses form where shoes rub or press. Learn safe home care, why you should not cut them, and when to see a podiatrist, especially with diabetes.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 6 min read
Foot Conditions Ball & arch

High Arches (Cavus Foot): Why They Hurt and When to Get Them Checked

A very high arch can load the heel and ball of the foot, leading to pain, calluses and ankle sprains. Learn the causes, how it is checked and what helps.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 6 min read
Foot Conditions Ankle & lower leg

Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction: When Inner Ankle Pain Flattens Your Arch

Pain on the inside of the ankle and an arch that slowly drops can signal a strained posterior tibial tendon. Learn the signs, stages and when to get it checked.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 6 min read
Foot Conditions Toes

Big Toe Arthritis (Hallux Rigidus): Why Your Big Toe Is Stiff and What Helps

A stiff, sore joint at the base of the big toe can be arthritis. Learn the signs, which shoes and treatments may help, and when to get it checked.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 6 min read
Foot Conditions Ball & arch

Stress Fractures in the Foot: Early Signs, Causes and When to Get Checked

Foot stress fractures often start as a nagging ache. Learn the causes and early signs, why X-rays can miss them, how they heal and when to get checked.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 6 min read
Foot Care Skin & nails

Winter Foot Care in Montana: Frostbite, Chilblains and Trench Foot

How to spot and prevent frostbite, chilblains and trench foot in your feet this Montana winter, what to do right away, and when to get care.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 5 min read
Foot Conditions Skin & nails

A Look at Painful Plantar Warts

Plantar warts are caused by HPV and can be surprisingly painful. Learn what they look like, how to tell them apart from calluses, and how podiatrists treat them.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 4 min read
Foot Care Ankle & lower leg

Shin Splints: How to Ease Your Lower Leg Pain

Shin splints cause aching lower-leg pain in runners and active Montanans. Learn the causes, RICE care, stretching, orthotics, and when to see a podiatrist.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 4 min read
Foot Conditions Heel

Sever's Disease: What Parents Should Know About Heel Pain in Active Kids

Heel pain in an active child is often Sever's disease. Learn the ages, symptoms and home care, signs it may be something else, and when to see a podiatrist.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 6 min read
Foot Care Skin & nails

Easy Ways to Prevent and Treat an Ingrown Toenail

Ingrown toenails are painful but often preventable. Learn how to prevent them, when safe home care is appropriate, and when to see a podiatrist.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 4 min read
Foot Conditions Whole-foot care

Understanding Diabetic Foot Care

Diabetes creates serious risks for your feet. Learn how to protect them with daily care, what to watch for, and why regular podiatry visits matter.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 4 min read
Foot Care Skin & nails

Athlete's Foot: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Learn about athlete's foot (tinea pedis) — causes, symptoms, how to treat it at home, and when to see a podiatrist.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 4 min read
Foot Conditions Ball & arch

Morton's Neuroma: Why It Feels Like a Pebble in Your Shoe

What Morton's neuroma is, why it can feel like a pebble in your shoe, how footwear plays a role, how it's evaluated, and the care options a podiatrist may discuss.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 6 min read
Foot Conditions Heel

Bone Spurs in the Foot: What You Need to Know

Bone spurs form on the heel or foot joints in response to chronic stress. Learn what causes them, when they cause pain, and how Montana podiatrists treat and prevent them.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 4 min read
Foot Conditions Heel

Achilles Tendinitis: Causes, Symptoms, Home Care and When to Worry

What Achilles tendinitis is, what causes it, how to care for it at home, when to see a podiatrist, and the warning signs of an Achilles tendon rupture.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 6 min read
Foot Conditions Toes

Gout in the Foot and Big Toe: What It Is and What to Do During a Flare

What gout is, why it often strikes the big toe, what a flare feels like, common triggers, what to do during a flare and when to get the joint checked.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 5 min read
Foot Care Whole-foot care

Caring for Your Feet as You Age

Aging changes your feet decade by decade — tendons stiffen, arches flatten, circulation slows. Learn how to protect your feet in your 40s, 50s, and beyond with advice from Montana podiatrists.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 4 min read
Foot Conditions Ankle & lower leg

Ankle Sprains: What Happens, Home Care and When to Get Checked

What happens when you sprain your ankle, how sprains are graded, how to care for one at home, and the warning signs that mean it is time to get it checked.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 6 min read
Foot Conditions Skin & nails

Toenail Fungus: What It Looks Like, Why It Happens and How It's Treated

What toenail fungus looks like, what causes it, why it matters more with diabetes or poor circulation, how it's treated, and when to see a podiatrist.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 6 min read
Foot Conditions Whole-foot care

Peripheral Neuropathy in the Feet: Symptoms, Risks and Daily Protection

What peripheral neuropathy is, why numb or tingling feet raise the risk of unnoticed injuries and ulcers, and daily habits that help protect your feet.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 6 min read
Foot Conditions Toes

What Are Bunions? Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Options

Bunions are a progressive structural deformity, not just a bump. Learn causes, symptoms, and treatment — from orthotics to surgery.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 4 min read
Foot Conditions Whole-foot care

The Importance of Regular Foot Exams for Diabetics

Diabetes is the leading cause of non-traumatic amputation in the U.S. Learn what a comprehensive diabetic foot exam includes, how often you need one, and why skipping it raises your risk.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 4 min read
Foot Conditions Heel

FAQs About Heel Pain: Answers from Montana Podiatrists

Get answers to the most common heel pain questions — what causes plantar fasciitis, why it hurts most in the morning, which stretches help, and when to see a Montana podiatrist.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 4 min read
Foot Conditions Toes

Hammertoes: Causes, Symptoms and When to Get Help

What causes hammertoes, claw toes and mallet toes, how flexible and rigid toes differ, footwear and padding tips, and when surgery may be considered.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 6 min read
Foot Conditions Ankle & lower leg

Understanding the Link Between Ankle Pain and Other Health Conditions

Ankle pain isn't always just a sprain — it can signal gout, rheumatoid arthritis, Lyme disease, peripheral artery disease, or diabetes. Learn how systemic conditions show up in the ankle and what Montana patients need to know.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 4 min read
Foot Conditions Ball & arch

How to Manage Foot Pain Caused by Flat Feet

Flat feet (pes planus) cause arch collapse and overpronation that can produce pain in the heel, ankle, knee, and back. Learn how Montana podiatrists diagnose and treat flat feet with orthotics, stretching, and surgery when needed.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 4 min read
Podiatry Skin & nails

When to See a Podiatrist for Ingrown Toenails

Learn when home care is safe for an ingrown toenail and when to call a podiatrist. Signs of infection, what happens in-office, and the permanent correction option.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 4 min read
Foot Care Whole-foot care

Preventing Foot Problems: The Importance of Proper Footwear

How the right shoes help prevent common problems like plantar fasciitis, bunions and neuromas, and what to look for when you buy a new pair.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 5 min read
Foot Care Whole-foot care

Foot Care for Seniors: Maintaining Mobility and Independence

Foot problems are a leading cause of falls and lost independence in older adults. Here is how to keep your feet healthy and stay on the move.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 5 min read
Foot Conditions Heel

What Is Causing My Heel Pain?

Heel pain can stem from multiple causes beyond plantar fasciitis. Learn the most common reasons and what each requires.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 4 min read
Foot Care Whole-foot care

The Importance of Proper Footwear

Why the right shoes matter for preventing plantar fasciitis, bunions and chronic foot pain, and how to find a pair that truly fits your feet.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 5 min read
Podiatry Whole-foot care

Choosing Shoes That Support Your Feet

Learn how to choose shoes matched to your foot type — flat feet, high arches, bunions, diabetic feet, or plantar fasciitis — with guidance from Montana podiatrists.

Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute · 5 min read

Reading about it is a start. Getting it checked is better.

Our podiatrists see adults and children in Butte and Bozeman, with monthly visits to Anaconda, Ennis and Harlowton.

Request Appointment (406) 782-2278

Ready when you are.

Board-certified podiatrists for adults and children across Southwest Montana and the Gallatin Valley. Send a request and our front desk will call within one business day.

Urgent or same-day? Call Butte & Anaconda at (406) 782-2278 or Bozeman, Ennis & Harlowton at (406) 587-8478.

Call Request Appointment

Request an appointment

Takes about a minute. We’ll call to find a time that works.

Preferred office

We’ll call within one business day to find a time. Some insurance plans require a referral, so check with your carrier. For anything urgent, call (406) 782-2278 or (406) 587-8478.

Call the front desk

Butte & Anaconda(406) 782-2278 Bozeman, Ennis & Harlowton(406) 587-8478

Front desks: Mon–Thu 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM · Fri 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM. For anything urgent, call rather than send a form.