What do you know about foot arthritis?

1. What are the symptoms of arthritis?

A. Stiffness or swelling of the joints

B. Pain

C. Difficulty moving or walking

D. All of the above can be symptoms of arthritis

2. Match the type of arthritis to the correct description:

A. Osteoarthritis

B. Psoriatic Arthritis

C. Rheumatoid Arthritis

D. Posttraumatic Arthritis

1. This type of arthritis can affect many joints of the foot, but most commonly affects the joints closest to the nail. This causes toes to turn red and swell into a sausage shape.

2. This type of arthritis causes inflammation of the joints at the ball of the foot. Bones can start to push against the skin at the bottom of the foot.

3. This is the most common form or arthritis, and is caused by normal wear and tear of the joints.  This type of arthritis can develop in the many joints of the foot.

4. This type of arthritis develops after an injury to the foot or ankle

3. Which type of arthritis is an autoimmune disease?

A. Osteoarthritis

B. Rheumatoid Arthritis

C. Psoriatic Arthritis

4. Osteoarthritis can result on bone rubbing on bone. This can produce painful osteophytes. What are osteophytes?

A. Bone spurs

B. Bunions

C. Stress Fractures

5. True or False? An injured joint is more likely than an uninjured joint to become arthritic.

Check the comments below for the correct answers.

Image by Bob Jenkins. Foot. (2010). Flickr.

Shoes for the Whole Family

We all know the importance of wearing shoes that fit properly and provide adequate support. If you are doing the shoe shopping in your family, here are some good tips for all members.

Women

A lot of women are guilty of wearing shoes they know are too small, don’t fit properly, or even hurt. High heeled shoes, pointed toes and even ballet flats can cause orthopedic problems. Heels should be kept to 2” max, and even these should be worn in moderation. Your foot sits in an unnatural position when the heel is elevated too much. Shoes that have a heel one inch or lower and a roomy toe box are ideal. Look for a shoe that blends fashion and comfort. If you are wearing a heeled shoe, try not to wear it all day. Wear sneakers or a sturdy pair of flats for part of the day.

Men

Make sure the toe box is roomy and the heel is low, no higher than half an inch. Think about what you need in a shoe. If you are standing for long periods of time, shoes with softer, cushioned soles will keep you the most comfortable. If you are required to wear dress shoes, make sure there is enough room to move toes around. Some shoes are made out of hard materials and taper at the toes; this can leave little wiggle room. Shoes should be alternated on a daily basis, so buying 3-5 shoes for your work week is advisable.

Children

Your child’s shoe is probably the most important shoe you will shop for. Choosing the right shoe plays a critical role in musculoskeletal development. Infants who are just learning to walk do not typically need shoes. Walking barefoot helps the foot to grown normally, develop muscle strength and encourage toe grasping. Since children grow at such a fast rate, you should have their feet measured every time you are shopping for shoes. If one foot is larger, fit the larger foot. Make sure there is room to wiggle toes, there is a firm heel and the shoe does not slip off the heel. Have your child try them on and walk around. Look for any signs of discomfort. 

Image by Jennifer Feuchter. Family Shoe Photo. (2013). Flickr.

Plantar Fibromas

A plantar fibroma is a benign nodule that develops in the arch of the foot. They grow within the thick tissue of the plantar fascia, which extends from the heel to the toes.

Plantar Fibromas are:

• Slow growing masses
• Most commonly, a solitary nodule, although multiple nodules are possible.
• Not typically painful themselves, but as the nodule becomes larger, the pressure it puts on the nerves and blood vessels within your foot may be painful.
• Most commonly seen in the mid-arch region, but can develop anywhere along the underside of your foot.

These are not life-threatening tumors, but they do need to be treated properly. They can be uncomfortable and painful, can reduce your mobility, change your gait, and impair your ability to walk or even wear shoes. Some common treatments include:

• Stretching exercises
• Changing footwear to distribute weight evenly across the foot
• Anti-inflammatories
• Surgery to remove the nodule

 Image by heelsandfeet. Well Shaped Foot. (2007). Flickr.

Heel Fissures and Calluses

Heel Fissures and Heel Calluses are two common heel issues that start as cosmetic problems, but can lead to serious medical problems. Let’s learn about these two conditions.

Heel Fissures

Heel Fissures are cracked heels. They occur when the skin on heel becomes hard, dry and flaky. Heel Fissures can become painful and the cracks can be severe enough to bleed. They can develop from wearing open-backed shoes or from skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Wearing proper shoes and routinely moisturizing feet can reduce the dryness of this condition.

Heel Calluses

Heel calluses develop when one metatarsal bone is longer/lower than the others, causing it to hit to ground with more force than it should. As a result, the skin thickens, resulting in a callus that can be both irritating and painful. Most of the time a physician can treat your callus without surgery. Wearing shoes with proper padding in the heel region will help to reduce the added pressure, which will reduce the severity of the callus.  

If you notice any cracking or thickening of the skin on your heel, see a physician before the problem starts to progress into a more serious issue. 

Image by Quinn Dombrowski. Foot Callus. (2008). Flickr. 

What do you know about a broken foot?

1. The human foot has how many bones?

A. 14

B. 22

C. 26

D. 30

2. 1 out of every “blank” broken bones occurs in the foot.

A. 5

B. 10

C. 15

D. 20

3. There are three parts to the foot. The long part of the foot (forefoot) contains the most bones. True or False?

4. Small cracks that form over a long period of time due to repeated strain on the bones is called what?

A. Tension Fracture

B. Pressure Fracture

C. Stress Fracture

5. Which is more common? A broken bone caused by an accident, or a broken bone caused by the answer to number 4.

6. Are broken bones more common in children or adults?

7. In children, which is stronger? Ligaments and tendons or bone and cartilage?

8. What are the signs of a broken foot?

A. Pain

B. Swelling

C. Bruising

D. All of the above can occur

Check out the answers to the quiz in the comments below.

Image by Valerie Everett. Questions? (2008). Flickr.

Bunion Treatment

Bunions can develop because of genetics, arthritis, leg length discrepancies, or from wearing poorly fitting shoes. Shoes that do not leave enough room for your toes can gradually push the foot bones into a new shape. The unnatural bony hump that forms is called a bunion (at base of the big toe) or bunionette (at base of the little toe). Bunions can be very painful since they occur where the toe bends when you walk. A doctor can confirm your diagnosis via a physical exam and possibly an x-ray.

Depending on the severity of your bunion, he will recommend treatment. Here are some typical treatments:

Pain reliever and/or medication to reduce swelling and inflammation

Heat or ice to relieve pain

Bunion pads, splints and shoe inserts

Correctly fitting shoes or sometimes prescription shoes

Surgery

Some bunions may be the result of another deformity, like flat feet. In these cases, the primary foot problem needs to be treated first. 

Image by andy_5322. My Feet. (2007). Flickr.

Fun Shoe Facts

We all know the importance of finding and wearing a shoe that fits properly. Some good tips to follow are to fit the larger foot, go shoe shopping at the end of the day when feet are their biggest, get sized by a professional, and make sure there is enough room for your toes to move around. Shoes have come a long way over the years. The first shoes were made from animal skins, leather cords, leaves, rawhide, wood, etc. Here are a few fun historical foot facts.

Where did the term “two left feet” come from? Up until the 17^th Century, there was no distinction between shoes made for the left or right foot.

During the 16^th Century, women began to wear such high heeled shoes, that a law was enforced limiting the size of the heels on shoes because of the danger they posed.

Shoes used to be an indicator of class.

In Ancient Egypt, slaves did not wear shoes, commoners wore sandals, and those in higher society wore pointed sandals.

Sneakers were invented in 1917. They were named sneakers by an advertising agency since the rubber soles made the shoes “sneaky”.

Image by YellowBecky. Shoes. (2012). Flickr.