Arthritis is inflammation of one or more of your joints. It can cause pain, stiffness and loss of mobility in any joint in the body and is quite common in the joints of the foot and ankle.

During standing, walking, and running, the foot and ankle provide support, shock absorption, balance, and various other roles that are vital for movement. Osteoarthritis, is the most common and is a degenerative condition. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage in the joint gradually thins and is worn away. As this occurs, it becomes frayed and rough, and the joint space between the bones decreases. This loss of joint space can result in bone on bone shearing forces and produce painful osteophytes (bone spurs).

Osteoarthritis develops slowly, causing pain and stiffness that worsen over time. Poor foot and ankle biomechanics can result in osteoarthritis of the foot and ankle.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic disease that usually affects multiple joints throughout the body, and often starts in the foot and ankle.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, meaning the body’s immune system attacks its own joints and tissues. In rheumatoid arthritis, immune cells attack the synovium (outer layer of joint) causing it to swell. As the disease progresses, the synovium invades then attacks and damages the bone and cartilage, as well as ligaments and tendons, and causes serious joint deformity and disability. An enlarged bunion and prominent metatarsal heads with loss of fatty pad on the ball of the foot are common clinical presentations of rheumatoid arthritis.

Shin Splints (Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome)

Medial tibial stress syndrome is the term used to describe shin splints. The problem is caused by excessive stress on the shin bone and surrounding muscles. The symptoms include aching legs/tired legs and may progress to severe sharp discomfort in the lower third of the shin bone that stops activity. If left untreated, shin splints can progress to stress fractures in the shin bone.