Arthritis of the Foot

Common causes of foot osteoarthritis include:

• Genetics and family history can predispose individuals to developing osteoarthritis and joint degeneration
• Ligament or joint damage can affect the stability and integrity of the foot joints placing more stress on the joint or articular cartilage. The increased stress and force placed on the joint surfaces can lead to wear and tear on the joint.
• Repetitive strain injuries to the foot can damage and accelerate wear on joint surfaces
• Obesity causes increased weight and pressure on the foot joints, when performing everyday activities. This puts added stress on the foot, increasing forces on the joint cartilage.
• Diseases of the joint cartilage
• Excessive use of steroids or steroid medication can result in degeneration of the joint and cartilage.
• Previous trauma to a joint can increase wear and tear and the likelihood of developing osteoarthritis.
• Pes planus, flat feet, and fallen arches can put additional stress on the joints of the foot producing wear and tear on the joints.

• Pain and achiness in the foot joints.
• Loss of motion in the foot. Stiffness that may improve with movement.
• Noticeable swelling around the joint.
• Increased size or deformity of the joint
• Weakness may be present making it difficult to move freely
• Cracking, crunching or joint noise (called crepitus) when moving the foot.
• Difficulty walking, standing or weight bearing on the foot.

Rheumatoid arthritis can affect other parts of the body including organs like the heart and lungs, and can even cause fatigue. The cause of Rheumatoid arthritis is not fully known. It is considered an autoimmune disease where the cells of the body attack themselves. Although it is a chronic condition, individuals can have periods of little to no symptoms mixed with acute or symptomatic periods. There can be a genetic component to this disease.

• Pain is present over the foot joints.
• Swelling and inflammation of the joint.
• The joint will feel hot or warm to the touch.
• Stiffness and loss of motion of the foot when flexing or moving the joints.
• Weakness, which may be manifested as difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
• Fatigue or tiring easily when performing normal daily activities.

Treatment of foot arthritis will depend on the severity of the condition. Some important guidelines should be followed at the onset:

Rheumatoid Arthritis Considerations

The ideal treatment involves a combination of medication, rest, joint range of motion and strengthening exercises, and joint protection strategies such as bracing and splinting and patient education. Restoring range of motion and strength is paramount to maintaining function. Protecting the joint through education about movement, and bracing and splinting when necessary can help reduce further joint damage. Treatment is customized depending on the individual’s age, level of function, acute versus chronic flare up, pain level and general health.

• Rest: avoid the activities that produce the pain. Avoid jumping, running, going up and down stairs, and walking for extended periods of time.
• Ice or moist heat: apply ice to the joint or area of pain or inflammation. It is one of the fastest ways to reduce swelling, pain and inflammation. Individuals with Rheumatoid arthritis may not tolerate ice well. The application of moist heat may be helpful with stiff joints. The application of ice or heat should be done at intervals for about twenty minutes at a time. Do not apply directly to the skin.
• Compression: when using ice, apply light compression. This is especially helpful if swelling is present.
• Elevation: elevate the area to help reduce swelling.
• Movement: keep your joints moving whenever possible. When pain occurs the tendency is not to move, but this will only result in further loss of motion and lead to increased pain and loss of function.

Mild: In mild cases rest, ice and medication may be all that is needed to reduce the pain. Once the pain is reduced physical therapy is recommended to develop a series of stretching and strengthening exercises to prevent loss of motion, weakness and function. Individuals are advised to avoid becoming sedentary; however, return to full activity should be gradual to prevent a flare up of symptoms.

Moderate to Severe: If the problem persists, consulting your health care provider should be the next step. Your physician and/or physical therapist will perform a thorough evaluation to determine the severity of the condition and the best course of treatment.

Physical Therapists are professionals, educated and trained to administer interventions. As defined by The Guide to Physical Therapist Practice, interventions are the skilled and purposeful use of physical therapy methods and techniques to produce changes consistent with the diagnosis, prognosis and the patient or client’s goals.

Your physical therapist will perform a thorough evaluation to assess and determine the following:

• Joint: a series of measurements will be performed to determine which joint is involved and the extent to which the inflammation is acute
• Strength: resisted testing is performed to determine if there is associated weakness or strength imbalances
• Flexibility: range of motion measurements will be taken to determine if there is reduced joint movement
• Technique and ADL: the therapist will review what activities you have difficulty with and will help you make modifications in technique to reduce stress on the involved joint.
• Gait, Balance and Alignment: the therapist will assess your gait and balance on even and uneven surfaces. An assistive device such as a cane or walker may be indicated to improve safety, gait and reduce stress on the effected joint.

Physical therapy for foot arthritis must remain conservative at the onset to avoid aggravating the condition. Emphasis will be placed on rest, reducing the inflammation, protecting the joint and increasing the blood circulation for healing. Once the initial inflammation has reduced, a program of stretching and strengthening will be initiated to restore flexibility and improve strength to reduce stress on the foot joints. Taping, bracing or strapping to rest and protect the joint while promoting healing may be indicated.

Common Physical Therapy interventions in the treatment of Foot Arthritis include:

• Manual Therapeutic Technique (MTT): hands on care including soft tissue massage, stretching and joint mobilization by a physical therapist to improve alignment, mobility and range of motion of the foot. The use of mobilization techniques also helps to modulate pain.
• Therapeutic Exercises (TE) including stretching and strengthening exercises to regain range of motion and strengthen muscles of the foot and lower extremity to support, stabilize and decrease the stresses place on joint cartilage and the foot joint.
• Neuromuscular Reeducation (NMR) to restore stability, retrain the lower extremity and improve movement techniques and mechanics (for example, running or jumping) of the involved lower extremity to reduce stress on the joint surfaces in daily activities. Taping, strapping or bracing may be indicated for joint protection and promote healing. Gait and balance training may be indicated in those that have issues with walking.
• Modalities including the use of ultrasound, electrical stimulation, ice, cold, laser and others to decrease pain and inflammation of the involved joint.

Avoiding the activities that produce the pain or stress the involved tendon is the first line of treatment.

• RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation should be used to reduce the stress on the bursa.
• NSAIDS (Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) to reduce pain and inflammation.
• Immobilization, strapping or bracing may be beneficial to rest, protect the joint and promote healing.
• Injection of steroids may be indicated to reduce inflammation of the involved joint.
• Joint injections of hyaluronic acid preparations (synvisc or suparz) to facilitate joint cartilage repair and regeneration.
• In severe recurrent conditions surgery may be indicated. In less severe cases arthroscopic surgery to clean the joint surfaces (debridement) or different forms of foot reconstruction may be indicated.

Medical Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Early aggressive medical care is recommended for individuals with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Interventions may include the following:

• The use of DMARD (disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs).
• The use of NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
• When indicated steroids in low doses will be prescribed to reduce joint inflammation.
• Physical and Occupational Therapy to develop a stretching and strengthening program.
• Bracing and splinting to protect and rest the involved joints
• Surgery may be indicated in severe cases. An arthroscopic procedure to remove an inflamed synovial lining is one surgical option.