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Arthritis
Arthritis is a disease that affects about 40 million people in America. It is caused by inflammation of the cartilage and lining of the joints.
The foot has 26 main bones (and 28 with sesamoids) and 33 joints that can be affected by arthritis. The inflammation caused by arthritis can
cause redness, swelling, warmth, and pain. Arthritis affects people over the age of 50.
The fact that over ¼ of all the bones in your body are located in your feet means that if you have arthritis, your feet will probably be affected.
Your podiatrist or specialist will work closely with your internist and rheumatologist who will treat the disease itself, while the podiatrist
concentrates on bringing you relief from pain in your feet. Your podiatrist cannot cure your arthritis, but can bring you comfort.
Causes of Arthritis
There are many causes of arthritis and in the foot the most common one is injury, both sudden trauma and small repetitive trauma. This includes the
degenerative type of arthritis which causes jamming of the joints in flat feet. Hereditary factors may also contribute to the causes of arthritis,
along with bacterial and viral infections and gastrointestinal disorders such as ileitis and colitis.
Arthritis can also lead to hammertoes, claw toes, mallet toes, and bunion deformity, while a larger joint affected includes the ankle. Other causes
of arthritis include climate, circulatory disease, nerve pathology, tremendous mechanical strain with daily work, nervous stress, and allergies.
All of these may cause arthritic conditions to worsen.
Treatment of Arthritis
A foot that is not stabilized creates elongation of the ligament structure on the bottom surfaces connecting the bones. Once this injury has
occurred to the ligaments, often creating lengthening or deformity, it is never returned to normal. You may relieve this structural deformity
with an orthotic, but you may never restore the strength of the ligament structure. However, the tendon structure may be helped by constant
use of orthoses, which prevent the jamming process of flattening of the foot and degenerative changes in the joint.
Arthritic conditions can be determined by x-ray and other special laboratory studies, which will dictate the type of treatment that your
specialist will use. Treatment may include hydrotherapy, short wave diathermy, exercise programs, padding, strapping, inlays, molded shoes,
anti-inflammatory medications, and injections. In severe cases of arthritic conditions, surgery may be indicated to alleviate the pain.
Proper footwear and orthotics will help reduce the pain and pressure with arthritis and provide a much more comfortable stress free environment
for your feet. Arthritic footwear should provide the following for adequate comfort and support:
- A high and wide toe box, which is the toe area of the shoe.
- Removable insoles that allows the option of orthotics if necessary.
- Rocker bottom soles will make walking easier and take pressure off the ball of the foot.
- Material that allows swelling to occur in the shoe to prevent further pressure from being applied.
- Orthotics made with Plastazote that mold to your feet and provide a custom molded support.
Arthritis seems to be a disease of ups and downs. There are periods when you feel little or no pain and pain that may have lasted for months
or years can suddenly decrease or disappear. Often times there is no permanent cure. However, your podiatrist can help reduce foot pain.
Through treatment, proper shoes, and exercise you can have more activity with less discomfort.
This material is only provided as helpful information and you should always go to your medical doctor or podiatrist for a professional diagnosis.
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