What
is arthritis?
Definition
Arthritis is a disabling disease
that affects nearly 40 million Americans
alone. It is characterised by inflammation
of the cartilage and the lining
of the body’s joints. Symptoms
include swelling in one or more
joints, recurring pain or tenderness
in any joint, redness or heat in
a joint, limitation in motion, early
morning stiffness, and skin changes
including rashes or growths. The
three types of arthritis are osteoarthritis,
rheumatoid arthritis, and gouty
arthritis. Because each foot contains
33 joints and bears a tremendous
amount of weight and pressure, feet
may be more susceptible to arthritis
than other parts of the body.
Causes
| •
|
Heredity |
| •
|
Age |
| •
|
Viral and bacterial infections |
| •
|
Excessive weight |
| • |
Prescription and illegal
drugs |
| • |
Systemic disease |
| • |
Ill-fitting shoes |
| • |
Trauma |
What can
you do?
| •
|
Wear supportive
shoes on a daily basis |
| •
|
Begin a program of physical
therapy, exercise or massage,
use ice packs or hot packs |
| •
|
Soak feet in lukewarm water |
| •
|
Wear shock retarding insoles |
|
