Feet and musculoskeletal conditions
Our feet are complex structures
Each foot has 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 tendons, muscles, and ligaments
Conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout can cause pain and swelling in feet
There are things you can do to decrease foot pain
Arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions that affect the Rheumatoid arthritis
feet can have a great impact on your daily activities and Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that
livelihood. This information will look at common affects many joints in the body. Common symptoms
conditions that can affect your feet, and things you can affecting the feet include:
do to manage them.
pain, swelling and stiffness of the joints
Osteoarthritis clawing of the toes
While osteoarthritis can affect any of the joints in the bunions
feet, it commonly affects the big toe joint or the joints in the later stages of the disease, the arch of the
in the middle of the foot. It usually is the result of a foot may collapse.
prior injury or poor foot function.
Gout
Decreased movement or complete fusion of the big toe Gout is a common form of arthritis characterised by
joint is quite common and there may also be an repeated attacks of extreme joint pain, swelling and
associated bunion (bony lump on the outside of the redness. It occurs when uric acid builds up in the
joint) present in this area. bloodstream and deposits urate crystals in the joint. The
build-up of these crystals can lead to inflammation. The
When osteoarthritis affects the joints in the middle of
most commonly affected joint is the big toe. During an
the feet, prominent bony lumps called osteophytes may
attack the joint is red, hot, swollen, and is extremely
form on the top of the foot. Essentially osteoarthritis in
painful. While most other types of arthritis develop
the feet is a ‘wear and tear’ injury where the cartilage of
slowly, an attack of gout happens suddenly, often
the joint wears thin and the space between the joints
overnight.
becomes narrowed.
Psoriatic arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is not very common, however it can
affect the feet and cause the toes to swell. It’s generally
associated with psoriasis of the skin and nails; the skin
may appear red, scaly and itchy and the nails pitted and
discoloured.
Bunions
A bunion is a painful bony bump that forms on the joint
of your big toe. A bunion develops when your big toe
pushes against your next toe. Over time this changes
the structure of the joint, causing the joint of your big
toe to get bigger and stick out.
June 2018
The shape and structure of your foot is something you medications: speak to your doctor about
inherit from your parents, and some foot types are medications that may help relieve your pain. Your
more prone to bunions than others. Bunions may also doctor may prescribe medication that can help you
be caused by inflammatory conditions such as manage any pain and/or inflammation. Depending
rheumatoid arthritis. on the underlying condition causing the problem in
your feet, your doctor may also prescribe other
Wearing shoes that cause your toes to be quite
medications – such as cortisone injection into a joint
confined and crowded – for example shoes that are too
for rheumatoid arthritis or medication for acute
tight, too narrow or high heeled - may trigger bunions in
attacks of gout.
people who are more susceptible to developing them.
surgery: in some cases surgery may be needed if
Treating foot conditions other conservative treatments haven’t helped. A
The treatments used for foot conditions will vary from referral to an orthopaedic surgeon who specialises
person to person. Below are some treatment and in feet is usually required.
management options:
Where to get help
foot care: it’s important to look after your feet.
Your doctor
Wash and dry them regularly. Inspect them for
anything unusual such as cuts, blisters, changes to Podiatrist
the nails and skin. By being aware of your feet and Physiotherapist
any changes that occur, you can seek advice sooner. Musculoskeletal Australia
footwear: purchase comfortable, properly fitted www.msk.org.au
footwear. Look for shoes that are light, flexible at MSK Help Line: 1800 263 265
the toe joints and hard wearing. Shoes made of
leather are preferable over synthetic materials as How we can help
they breathe better. Avoid slip-on shoes and if laces
are difficult to fasten due to arthritis in your hands, Call our MSK Help Line and speak to our nurses.
Velcro or elastic laces are a suitable replacement. Phone 1800 263 265 or email helpline@msk.org.au.
orthotics: corrective insoles can help alleviate pain
by redistributing pressure away from the painful We can help you find out more about:
area and support the arch area. You can purchase arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions
off-the-shelf orthotics or you can have orthotics ways to live well with these conditions
made that are specifically fitted to your feet by a
managing your pain
podiatrist.
upcoming webinars, seminars and other events.
see a podiatrist: if you have foot pain, or a condition
that affects your feet, seek the advice and expertise More to explore
of a podiatrist. Podiatrists assess, diagnose and
treat foot and lower limb problems. These may Australian Podiatry Association
include skin and nail problems, foot and ankle www.apodc.com.au
injuries, foot complications related to medical Australian Physiotherapy Association
conditions and problems with your gait or walking. www.physiotherapy.asn.au
Podiatrists can provide advice on appropriate Better Health Channel
footwear, and can prescribe custom foot orthotics. www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
exercise: it’s important to keep your joints moving American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons -
where possible. Non-weight-bearing exercises such patient information http://orthoinfo.aaos.org
as swimming can be very beneficial, particularly for
foot pain, as they take the pressure away from the
painful areas. A podiatrist or physiotherapist can
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