Foot and ankle arthritis

Overview

Arthritis is a term used for “joint inflammation”. It is a cluster of more than one hundred diseases causing swelling, stiffness and pain around the joint. It results to acute or chronic soft tissue and joint inflammation. In arthritis, the cartilage in the joint gradually wears away and the protective space between the bones decreases. This can result in bone rubbing on bone and soft tissues in the joints start wearing down. Limitation of joint motion, joint deformities and dysfunction are the major effects of this condition. The common types of arthritis that affect the foot and ankle are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and post-traumatic arthritis.

Arthritis usually affects the following joint locations:

• The joint of foot and big toe bone
• The joint where the ankle and shinbone meet
• The three joints involving the heel bone, inner mid-foot bone, and outer mid-foot bone

Signs and symptoms

The following signs and symptoms may indicate foot and ankle arthritis:

• Joint swelling
• Joint stiffness
• Pain or tenderness
• Limitation of motion or walking ability