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News Releases
Save Your Soles:
Arthritis and Your Feet
Columbia, Mo. (April 18, 2007) -According to the Arthritis Research Foundation, eight out of ten people with rheumatoid arthritis have some type of foot deformity or painful inflammation. While not all problems are preventable, extra attention and better care of your feet may help you continue to put your best foot forward.
"Anyone with a chronic disease that either show symptoms in their feet or expect symptoms due to the nature of the disease should see a podiatrist for at lease annual examinations," says Marlene Reid, DPM, Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medial Association (APMA).
Arthritis is a major cause of foot pain because each foot has 33 joints that can become affected by the disease. According to the APMA, problems such as hammer toes, claw toes, mallet toes, ingrown toenails, corns and bunions often develop as a result of arthritis, particularly rheumatoid arthritis. And, people with RA are often prone to fungal infections like athlete's foot. The APMA points out that problems can also develop in the heel and ankle area due to the erosion of the involved joints.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) define common foot problems experienced by people with arthritis and offer these tips to avoid unnecessary pain:
- Hammer Toes.
Definition: Hammer toe is a deformity of the toe, in which the end of the toe is bent downward. Hammer toe usually affects the second toe, although it may affect other toes. The toe assumes a claw-like position.
Relief: Properly-sized footwear of wide toe-box shoes usually provide comfort and can reduce aggravation of hammer toes. The protruding join can be protected with corn pads or felt pads, corrective footwear, or other foot devices. Exercises may also be helpful.
- Ingrown Toe Nails.
Definition: Ingrown toe nails are a common, painful condition that occur when skin on one or both sides of a nail grows over the edges of the nail, or when the nail itself grows into the skin. Ingrown toe nails are common among people with hammer toes or other toe deformities.
Relief: A podiatrist can trim or remove the infected nail with a minor in-office surgical procedure.
- Corns.
Definition: Corns like calluses develop from an accumulation of dead skin cells on the foot, forming thick, hardened areas.
Relief: There are very simple ways to prevent and treat the corns. You should wear properly fitted footwear with extra room in the toe box (toe area). Avoid shoes that are too tight or too loose. Also avoid tight socks and stockings to provide a healthier environment for the foot.
- Bunions.
Definition: Bunions, referred to in the medical community as Hallux Valgus, are one of the most common forefoot problems. A bunion is a prominent bump (which is the bone) on the inside of the foot around the big toe joint.
Relief: In the early stages of the formation of a bunion, soaking feet in warm water can provide temporary relief. The best way to alleviate the pain associated with bunions is to wear properly fitting shoes - meaning shoes designed with a high, wide toe box.
Taking care of your feet is crucial to your overall health. Talk to your doctor about any foot pain you may be experiencing, it may be time to visit a podiatrist.
For more information about the American Podiatric Medical Association, visit www.apma.org.
The Missouri Arthritis Research Rehabilitation and Training Center (MARRTC) was established in 1971 at the University of Missouri-Columbia Arthritis Center. MARRTC is funded by the U.S. Department of Education's National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (H133B031120) and is the only federally funded arthritis rehabilitation research and training center in the country.
As part of the MU Health Communication Research Center (HCRC), MARRTC's mission is to become a national leader in the areas of disability management and communication, improve the quality of life and promote independent living among people who have arthritis and arthritic conditions. MARRTC's core message is "Disability is everyone's issue."
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