A common condition that most seniors experience is arthritis, in which joints in the body develop a burning or stinging sensation. In fact, there are over 100 different types of arthritis, though the most frequent happen to be in small joints located in the feet and ankles.

The best NDIS providers Melbourne has to offer can offer assisted living services to senior citizens so daily tasks can be made easier or taken care of entirely. In the meantime, here is everything there is to know about general arthritis.

Foot and ankle arthritis can be sore or hurt, and it can be rather difficult for the person to move on their feet and do certain tasks. As there aren’t any heals for arthritis, there are several ways in which it can be treated. Mild cases can be mitigated with exercise and medicine, with more severe cases requiring medical or surgical procedures. It can take 4 to 9 months to fully recover from severe arthritis following surgery.

There are many roles of the feet and ankles in humans. They maintain balance, give support, absorb shock, and do other tasks so the person can run, walk, stand, and switch positions. Each foot contains 30 different joints and 28 different bones. When performing together, they give the foot a great deal of flexibility. You can wiggle toes, move your ankles, and more.

What helps these joints move is articular cartilage. This cartilage is found at the tips of bones that are attached to joints, allowing bones to easily and painlessly smooth and glide over each other. As for joints, they help bones move with a thin membrane called synovium. Lastly, there are the ligaments, which are binding bands that hold joints in place.

The failure of one of these three aids in the foot depends on the type of arthritis you may have. These types of arthritis are as follows:

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is when the articular cartilage in the feet fail or are failing. This cartilage wears out from fraying and fatigue, so people in their middle age often start to develop it after years of being on their feet. Younger patients can also get it, however, though it’s not nearly as common. Osteoarthritis occurs when bone rubs against bone in the foot, leading to pain in the foot.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a severe case of arthritis that can affect multiple joints in the body, but typically starts with the feet. This type can affect both feet at once and the immune system will actually work against your body tissue rather than help it. Cells will also block the synovium, preventing your feet from getting the lubrication they need. This arthritis can also carry paint and stiffness over to tendons and ligaments.

Posttraumatic Arthritis

This arthritis occurs after a foot or ankle injury. If you’ve broken your foot, there’s the possibility that it doesn’t heal the right way. Joints can be changed, dislocated, or never heal, affecting how the foot performs. Like osteoarthritis, this arthritis can lead to wearing out your joints over time. Patients sometimes don’t even realise they are experiencing this arthritis until years after the injury has occured. Even with medical treatment, arthritis is more likely to affect an injured foot than a non-injured one.

Summary

Arthritis occurs when joints in the body are inflamed and give sensations of pain. This condition has no heal at this time, but can be commonly treated. Three common types of foot and ankle arthritis are osteo, rheumatoid, and posttraumatic arthritis, which affect bones, joints, and ligaments, respectfully.