Glossary
These are terms that appear on this web site, but also refer to the Morton’s Toe and appear in the book Why You Really Hurt: It All Starts In The Foot.
Accommodate: to adapt, adjust or modify in order to help treat a condition. A Toe Pad accommodates the foot to work properly.
Addison Disease: the chronic insufficiency of the hormone produced by the adrenal gland that results in bronzing of the skin, anemia, weakness, and low blood pressure.
Anatomical Position: the proper reference position when exact anatomic orientation is needed in performing some examination or task.
Bursitis: an inflammation of a bursa; a bursa is a sac filled with synovial fluid that acts as a shock absorber, to reduce the stress, between different tissues of the body.
Cartilage: the tissue that serves as the “cushion” between the bones of the joint. In most arthritis, it is the cartilage that wears down and causes pain.
Capsulitis: inflammation of the capsule, which is the tissue that acts as an envelope or surrounds the joint.
Compensate: to neutralize or counter balance, a defect, or undesired effects, of some abnormal condition. To compensate is not to cure but just to repair.
The Dudley J. Morton Foot (Long Second Metatarsal): term used by Dr. Janet Travell to denote a Morton’s Toe.
Dog and Pony Show: any type of presentation or display that is somewhat contrived or overly involved in order to make the customer think they are buying a worthwhile produce or gadget. In advertising, the creative pitch is commonly referred to as the “Dog and Pony” show.
ESPN: cable television network dedicated to broadcasting and producing sports-related programming 24 hours a day.
Fasciitis: see plantar fasciitis
Gangrene: the death of tissue due to the loss of blood supply to that area, sometimes bacteria also invades accelerating the tissues decay. The two major types are gas gangrene and dry gangrene.
Inflammation: one of the basic way the body protects itself, when reaction to infection, irritation, or other injuries. It main features are redness, warmth, swelling and pain.
Joint: the place where two bones are attached for the purpose of motion. Their are different types of joints according to their motion: a ball and socket joint; a hinge joint; a condyloid joint; a pivot joint; gliding joint; and a saddle joint.
Lumbago: is the term used to describe general lower back pain involving the lumbar vertebrae.
Osteoarthritis: the most common form of arthritis caused by the wear and tear of the joint, resulting in the destruction of cartilage of the joint.
Periosteum: a thick covering of fibrous connective tissue that wraps itself around the bone. If torn it tends to bleed with the result of new bone being formed like in heel spurs.
Plantar Fasciitis: inflammation of the plantar fascia , the “bowstring-like” tissue stretching from the heel to the toes. It often appears with a heel spur.
Plantar Ligament: the tissue on the bottom of two bones, that binds them together.
Podiatrist: a physician and surgeon that specializes in the evaluation and treatment of diseases of the foot, ankle and leg.
Pronation: normal series of motions of the foot, where it becomes a bag of bones and less stable, so that it can meet the ground and accommodate to the new walking surface. It is the opposite of supination.
Referred Pain: Pain felt at a site other than where the cause is situated. This is a characteristic of Myofascial Pain Syndrome where pain in one spot will cause pain at a distal location.
Rigid Lever: This is what the foot must become during Supination in order for it to be stable so that it can push away from the ground. If the foot does not become the rigid lever at the proper time, it will over pronate causing most of the foot and body problems written about in this book. A Morton’s Toe will intrinsically prevent the foot from becoming a rigid lever.
Sciatic pain: also known as sciatica. Pain from inflammation or irritation of the sciatic nerve that can start in the low back and can go all the way down to the big toe.
Supination: normal series of motions of the foot, where it becomes a rigid lever and more stable, so it can support our body weight when it pushes off from the ground. It is the opposite of pronation.
Synovitis: the lining of the joint. A layer of connective tissue that lines the inside of the joint, makes synovial fluid, which has a lubricating function.
Ulcer: an area of tissue erosion, that is always depressed below the level of the surrounding tissue.
