Winter Newsletter

Transcript

Osteoarthritis 

Ever wondered what osteoarthritis (wear and tear joint damage) looks like on a force plate? This is an interesting foot pressure study; a 35-year-old patient presented with a stiff big toe joint with occasional pain. Notice how there is a high-pressure area under the big toe? This factor, coupled with the fact the bulk of the pressure is on the inside of the foot is a clue this toe might be developing early osteoarthritic changes.

As podiatrists, we are in a unique position to be able to manage the mechanics and, therefore, the pain associated with conditions like osteoarthritis. In this patient’s case, they will benefit from having their weight moved laterally (to the outside) and off the big toe joint. This can be done with good footwear selection, orthoses, gait training and sometimes assistance from our physiotherapy colleagues.

Learn more about how we manage osteoarthritis here.