Osteoarthritis

This condition is a degenerative joint disease, and is often called “wear-and-tear” arthritis, as opposed to rheumatoid arthritis, which is an auto-immune disorder.

Must Know About This

• The essential element of foot care is to wear shoes that fit properly and feel comfortable, so look for shoes that are flat with no elevated heel, shaped like your foot, and flexible.
• Symptoms of foot and ankle osteoarthritis often include: tenderness or pain; reduced ability to move, walk, or bear weight; and stiffness in the joint.
• If arthritis doesn’t respond to nonsurgical treatment, surgical treatment might be considered. The choice of surgery will depend on the type of arthritis, the impact of the disease on the joints, and the location of the arthritis. Sometimes more than one type of surgery will be needed.

Good to Know About This

• Changes occur over many years, as inflammation and injury to the joint cause cartilage tissues to break down, resulting in pain, swelling, and deformity.
• Excessive wear can be caused by misalignment of the foot and body due to wearing shoes which do not allow the foot to be in its natural anatomical position, which is flat on the ground without an elevated heel.
• This condition is a degenerative joint disease, and is often called “wear-and-tear” arthritis, as opposed to rheumatoid arthritis, which is an auto-immune disorder.