How Does Arthritis Affect The Feet and Ankles?

Each year we recognize May as National Arthritis Awareness Month. This condition affects 350 million people worldwide. Arthritis can damage the joints and cause ankles and feet to stiffen up. When this happens, long-lasting and serious damage can occur to the joints that join bones together. This can impact the body's ability to maintain stability and steadiness, affecting mobility. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is generally associated with aging. Other risk factors for osteoarthritis include joint injury, obesity, genetics, and anatomic factors such as joint shape and alignment.

What Causes Arthritis?

Arthritis refers to joint inflammation. It is a symptom that involves various disorders that affect your joints. The causes of arthritis are numerous. Among the most common are:

●     Injury or Damage To The Joints

●     Wear and Tear On The Joints (Usually Due To Aging)

●     Suffering Certain Infections Around the Joints

●     Specific Genetics

What Are The Symptoms Of Arthritis?

Arthritis can affect ankle and foot conditions in a variety of ways. Each foot, like each person, is unique. Some of the most common symptoms are:

●     Stiffness In The Feet Or Ankles

●      Pain Or Discomfort On The Soles Of The Feet

●     Swelling In The Feet Or Ankles

●      Immobility Of The Joints

Treatment Options For Arthritis

Nonsurgical Treatment

Initial treatment of arthritis of the foot and ankle is usually nonsurgical. Your doctor may recommend a range of treatment options.

Lifestyle modifications.

Some changes in your daily life can help relieve the pain of arthritis and slow the progression of the disease. These changes include:

●     Minimizing activities that aggravate the condition.

●     Switching from high-impact activities (like jogging or tennis) to lower-impact activities (like swimming or cycling) to lessen the stress on your foot and ankle.

●     Losing weight reduces joint stress, resulting in less pain and increased function.

Surgical Treatment

Your doctor may recommend surgery if your pain causes disability and is not relieved with nonsurgical treatment. The type of surgery will depend on the type and location of arthritis and the impact of the disease on your joints. In some cases, your doctor may recommend more than one type of surgery.

Contacting A Podiatrist

To schedule an appointment at one of our offices, call (405)-513-0385, email us at info@knightfootandankle.com or visit our website to request an appointment, and one of our team members will contact you.