4 Early Warning Signs Your Foot Pain Might Be Gout
One of the most common reasons for pain in your big toe is a disruptive and uncomfortable condition called gout. Learn about the most common early symptoms that may occur when you develop gout.
How Arthritis in Your Feet Affects Your Walking Pattern
Foot arthritis causes your feet to become achy, swollen, and stiff. These symptoms and other arthritis complications can make your gait change temporarily or permanently.
Receiving help from podiatrists Thomas Rambacher, DPM, FACFAS, FAPWCA, and Amber O’Connor, DPM, at Podiatry Hotline Foot & Ankle in Mission Viejo, California, can simultaneously alleviate your foot arthritis symptoms and improve your walking posture. Read on to learn the link between arthritis and your walk, and what can help restore your gait.
What is a walking pattern?
The way you walk, or your gait, tends to be established from a young age. Everyone has a unique, individualized way of moving.
A gait consists of two stages: the stance and swing phases. Stance refers to how you place your foot on the ground, while the swing phase is what happens when you lift your foot off the ground and move it from one stance to another.
Medical problems like foot arthritis, taking certain medications, and the aging process are all common reasons your walking pattern can change.
How foot arthritis changes your walk
Especially when it’s not well-controlled, the stiffness and swelling caused by foot arthritis can lead to significant changes in how you walk. These changes can reduce and limit your mobility.
Some of the most common changes include:
Limping
Walking puts increased pressure on the foot joint where you have arthritis. This can increase your pain levels and cause the area to hurt every time you walk on it.
To avoid pain, you might start walking with a limp or shuffling awkwardly to avoid putting weight on the painful area of your foot.
Shorter strides
Arthritis can cause your feet to become swollen and stiff. It can be harder to make each stride as long as it previously was when you walk.
Stiffness can get better as you start moving around, so you might notice your stride length improving as the day goes on.
Reduced range of motion
Your foot and ankle become less flexible when you have arthritis. This makes it harder to move parts of your foot when you walk.
Reduced movement leads to a lower range of your motion when you move your foot, which can also impact the way you’re able to move your hips and knees when you walk.
Instability
Many forms of arthritis weaken your foot. Your walk can become shakier as you struggle to carry your body weight, and you may not be able to walk as far.
Correcting your walk with arthritis
Arthritis can make walking more difficult, but our team can help restore your gait and alleviate foot arthritis pain with targeted treatment. We begin with a gait analysis to determine how arthritis has most significantly impacted your walk.
Reducing stiffness and swelling, while making walking less painful, helps your walking pattern return to normal. Treatments we recommend include:
- Taking over-the-counter or prescription medication
- A safe, low-impact exercise routine
- Medical-grade custom orthotics and supportive shoes
- Pain relief injections
- Minimally invasive surgery to fix joints and bones
- Stem cell therapy
Treatment for foot arthritis helps you manage your symptoms and live more actively and comfortably. Contact us for effective solutions for foot and ankle arthritis.
You Might Also Enjoy...
The Best Shoes for Preventing Bunion Pain
At any size, bunions can be seriously painful and make it hard to go about your life. Wearing different shoes is sometimes all you need to do to stay pain-free. Keep reading to discover which shoes can help alleviate bunion pain.
How Psoriatic Arthritis Affects Your Feet
Having psoriatic arthritis in your feet and ankles can, unfortunately, make pain, swelling, and aches in your lower body a regular occurrence. Here’s how psoriatic arthritis impacts your feet, and what you can do about it.
How to Prevent and Treat Shin Splints
Over time, problems like shin splints can go beyond being a painful nuisance and seriously inhibit your daily routine. Learn what you can do to prevent and treat shin splints and get back on the playing field as quickly as possible.
How Minimally Invasive Diabetic Ulcer Surgery Works
Some diabetic ulcers require surgical treatment. The good news is that most ulcers can be treated with minimally invasive surgery. Understand what you can expect from minimally invasive diabetic ulcer surgery.
Common Foot Problems During Pregnancy and What You Can Do About Them
Physical changes during pregnancy go beyond your growing belly, and even your feet can be impacted by your bundle of joy! Explore what foot issues can occur during pregnancy and what you can do about them.