Foot Ligaments

What are foot ligaments?

Foot ligaments are strong bands of tissue that connect various bones in your feet. These ligaments help stabilize your feet and provide necessary support to the arches in your feet. The ligaments of your feet:

• Help keep your bones in the proper position
• Prevent your ankle from twisting or collapsing
• Stabilize your ankle joint

You probably won’t think about the ligaments in your feet until you experience an injury. Inflammation or tears in any of your foot ligaments can cause foot pain. But thankfully, most foot ligament injuries heal with rest and nonsurgical treatments.

How many ligaments are in the foot?

Because there are so many bones in your foot, there are also numerous ligaments connecting them. Some of the main ligaments in the foot include:

• Plantar calcaneonavicular ligament (spring ligament). The strongest ligament in your foot, it connects bones in your ankle and foot, gives your arch structure and supports your body weight.
• Calcaneocuboid ligament. The calcaneocuboid ligament connects your heel bone to your tarsal bones that make up your foot’s arch.
• Lisfranc ligaments. The Lisfranc ligaments are located beneath your Lisfranc joint in your midfoot.

What is the purpose of the foot ligaments?

The primary purpose of the foot ligaments is to stabilize and support the arch of your foot. The arch is formed by bones, ligaments and tendons. The arch gives shape and structure to your foot.

Foot ligaments also help support your body’s weight. They absorb the impact your body feels with every step, like how shock absorbers in a car absorb bumps in the road.

Where are the foot ligaments located?

Foot ligaments run throughout your foot. Ligaments connect all 26 bones in each foot. Different foot ligaments:

• Run from your toes to your heel, supporting your arch
• Crisscross to connect the tarsal bones in your arch
• Connect the metatarsals (the long bones that lead to your toes)

What are foot ligaments made of?

Foot ligaments are made of fibrous connective tissue. These thick bands of soft tissue contain high amounts of a protein called collagen and strong yet stretchy elastic fibers.

What conditions are most likely to affect the foot ligaments?

Just like other ligaments in your body, foot ligaments can stretch, strain or even tear. Sports that involve quick twisting motions — like basketball, soccer, football or dancing — increase the risk of foot ligament injuries. Conditions that may affect your foot ligaments include:

• Plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of your plantar fascia. It’s the most common foot ligament injury and the most common cause of heel pain.
• Foot ligament sprain. You can sprain a ligament in your foot by twisting your foot or rolling your ankle. These injuries often occur along with an ankle sprain.
• Lisfranc injury. Also called a midfoot injury, it occurs in the Lisfranc joint in the middle of your foot. Falling or twisting your ankle can break the bones in the Lisfranc joint and tear ligaments.
• Flat feet. This condition can occur when the tendons and ligaments in the arches of your feet stretch, tear and swell.

How can I keep my foot ligaments healthy?

To prevent foot ligament injuries, it’s important to strengthen the muscles that support and stabilize your ankle. Foot ligament strains often happen when you roll or twist an unstable, weak ankle.

Other prevention measures include:

• Slowly increasing the duration and intensity of activity over time
• Mixing your activities to avoid repetitive motions
• Wearing well-cushioned shoes or orthotics that support the arch of your foot

When should I call my healthcare provider?

You should call your provider (podiatrist) if you experience:

• An inability to put weight on your foot
• Pain or swelling in your foot after rolling your ankle
• Pain in your heel
• Tenderness under the arch of your foot