Arthritis
What is it?
Arthritis is a term that is used to describe pain, swelling, and stiffness in a joint or joints. There are over 100 types of arthritis. Different types of arthritis have differing causes and can affect people in different ways.
Who gets it?
Arthritis affects around 10 million people in the UK. It can affect people of all ages. Some types of arthritis affect children and young people while other types are more common in older adults. The causes are not always clear and will differ for each type of arthritis.
How do I know if I have it?
It is sometimes hard to tell if you have arthritis or to confirm what type you have. A diagnosis is made by trained health professionals. A combination of listening to your symptoms and test results help inform this diagnosis decision.
What are the treatments?
There are no cures for arthritis, but there are several treatments are available. Many arthritis symptoms can be effectively managed through self-care and remaining as active as possible. There have also been advances in the drug treatments available for some types of arthritis in recent years.
When should I see a podiatrist?
If you are concerned about the health of your feet, or if you are experiencing pain, a change in appearance, or a change in how your foot works, you should seek advice from a podiatrist.
We have worked with other professional bodies, leading clinical experts, and a team of international academics to produce a suite of five information resources for people living with arthritis:
- General foot health advice for people with arthritis
- Insole advice for people with arthritis
- Nail surgery advice for people with arthritis
- Plantar heel pain advice for people with arthritis
- Wound care advice for people with arthritis
Further information
For more detailed and comprehensive information about different types of arthritis and foot care please consult the websites below:
- British Society for Rheumatology
- EULAR | Health professionals study groups
- IA Booklet: Standards of Care for people with musculoskeletal Foot health problems
- Foot and ankle pain | Causes, exercises, treatments
- The Foot and Rheumatoid Arthritis | NRAS
- Your Feet | National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society
- Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis on the feet