5 Facts About Foot and Ankle Anatomy For Medical Sales Reps

As a medical device sales rep working with orthopedic surgeons, it can be immensely helpful to have firsthand knowledge of the areas where the surgeon will be using the device and how the device helps in the treatment of specific orthopedic issues.

So, how much do you know about the foot and ankle? If you’re hoping to work with orthopedic surgeons who have decades of experience, you will need to have some baseline knowledge.

5 Facts About Foot and Ankle Anatomy For Medical Sales Reps

Fact No. 1: There are 3 areas of the foot

The foot is divided into the hindfoot, midfoot and forefoot. The hindfoot is composed of the ankle joint and goes to the midtarsal joint. You have three bones in the hindfoot. The midfoot begins at the midtarsal joint and ends at the metatarsals. The midfoot has more joints than the hindfoot, but these joints aren’t very mobile. You have five bones in the midfoot. The forefoot is composed of the metatarsals, phalanges and sesamoids. There are 21 total bones in the forefoot. 

Fact No. 2: There are a lot of bones and joints in the foot

Almost a quarter of the bones in your body are located in your feet. Not only that, there are 30 joints and over 100 muscles, ligaments and tendons.

Fact No. 3: Foot-specific conditions

Beyond the typical injuries that can occur in any body part that contains bones, tendons, ligaments, joints and muscles, the feet are subject to a number of specific conditions that can restrict movement and cause pain. 

These include:

• Ankle arthritis: This condition occurs when there is a breakdown of cartilage in the joint.
• Bunions: This is a bony protrusion on the side of the foot. Misaligned bones cause bunions, which can be caused by wearing poor-fitting shoes.
• Flat feet: This condition causes the sole of the foot to be in contact with the floor. This can cause hip and back pain as well as foot pain.
• Heel spurs: The heel is the largest bone in the foot and is prone to injury from gait. Heel spurs are bony overgrowths of the heel and can cause pain when walking.
• Mallet toe: This condition causes the joint in the middle of the toe to be permanently bent downward. 
• Metatarsalgia: This is pain under the ball of the foot and it’s usually caused by pressure from wearing high-heeled shoes.

Fact No. 4: The ankle is composed of 3 main joints

The ankle joint is composed of the tibia, the fibula and the talus. The ankle joint lets you flex your foot up and down, which allows you to walk, this joint is also notoriously wobbly, which results in some very common ankle injuries.

Fact No. 5: Ankle sprains are the most common injuries

That weak ankle joint results in frequent injury, especially when you couple it with the vigorous activity that is involved in most athletic activities. But, not all ankle sprains are the result of athletic activity. A lot of the injuries occur as a result of high heel use.

How To Learn More

Learning the basics of foot and ankle anatomy is an important way to gain the knowledge that will set you up for success in the operating room and in your career as a medical device sales rep. 

Taking the steps to further your education is even more important than memorizing the basics. 

With an orthopedic sales training course like OREdmasters, you have access to a comprehensive curriculum developed by surgeons and other leading industry professionals. The online, on-demand courses are focused on orthopedic anatomy and clinical education, allowing you to learn at your own pace to close the anatomic and clinical knowledge gap.

Enroll today in a wide range of courses about surgical subspecialties, orthopedic anatomy, orthopedic terminology, disease states and more.