Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEarly SignsTypes of Foot ArthritisCausesDiagnosisWhen to See a ProviderFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Early Signs
Types of Foot Arthritis
Causes
Diagnosis
When to See a Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
Arthritis can affect any of your joints, including those in your feet. Joint damage from arthritis can cause pain, swelling, and physical changes to the joints.
Arthritisis a general term that describes more than 100rheumatic diseasesthat affect the joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are pain and swelling in one or more joints. Arthritis can be acute (sudden and short-term) or chronic (gradual and long-lasting).
With most types of arthritis, the joints become worn down or damaged over time. This is one reason arthritis is common as people age, although there are types of arthritis that are related to other causes, including genetics.
This article will cover the early signs of arthritis in the feet, arthritis conditions that affect the feet, causes of arthritis, and more.
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Early Signs of Arthritis in Feet
Eachfootcontains 33 joints, 26 bones, and more than 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments.The joints are covered witharticular cartilage—connective tissue that covers the surface of bones in a joint. Its primary function is to reduce friction during joint movement.
Arthritis can affect one or more of the joints of your foot. You may have symptoms in one foot or both feet. Arthritis will cause the joints to wear down and lose their cartilage. As a result, the bones will rub against each other, causing pain.
The soft tissues in joints might also become worn. Over time, the joint will not move and work as it should.
Cartilage Loss in People With Arthritis
The earliest signs of arthritis in the feet are pain, swelling, and stiffness.
Arthritis symptoms in the feet can start suddenly and get worse quickly or develop gradually. Depending on the type of arthritis you have, one foot or both feet might be affected.
Over time, arthritis in the feet can worsen, leading to advanced symptoms. More advanced symptoms of foot arthritis include:
Types of Arthritis That Can Affect the Feet
Different types of arthritis can affect the feet, includingosteoarthritis(OA),rheumatoid arthritis(RA),gout,psoriatic arthritis(PsA), andankylosing spondylitis(AS).
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is known as wear and tear arthritis, which is expected as people age but can also affect younger people. OA causes joint cartilage to wear away, leading to bone-on-bone pain and bone spurs.
When OA affects the feet, it commonly affects themetatarsophalangeal joint(MTP)—the joint that connects the big toe to the foot.OA can also affect the midfoot.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
RA is a type ofautoimmune arthritisthat occurs because the immune system malfunctions and starts to attack healthy tissues, mainly thesynovial liningsof the joints. RA often starts in the feet, and because RA is symmetrical, it will affect both feet.
RA will cause inflammation of the small joints and soft tissues of the feet. It can cause severe pain and joint damage in the feet very early in the disease, even before a diagnosis can be made and treatment can start.
RA can affect both the ankles and feet. In addition, it can affect the hindfoot (the heel), the midfoot (at the top of the foot), and the forefoot (toes and ball of the feet).
Gout
Gout is a type ofinflammatory arthritisresulting fromtoo much uric acidin the body accumulating in a joint. It most commonly affects the feet and, frequently, the big toe. Research shows that the range of motion at the back of the foot and MTP joint is reduced in people who experience gout in their feet.
Psoriatic Arthritis
Like RA, psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease where the immune system malfunctions and attacks healthy tissues. In PsA, those attacks are directed at the joints and theentheses—the places where tendons and ligaments meet bone. It frequently affects one or both feet. Foot problems are among the earliest signs of PsA.
Foot problems linked to PsA include:
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of inflammatory arthritis that affects the spine and large joints. Like PsA, AS is an autoimmune disease that affects the entheses.
AS can lead to heel pain at the Achilles tendon and sole pain at the plantar fascia.Pain and tenderness in these areas can affect a person’s walking ability.
Causes of Arthritis
Different types of arthritis conditions will have differing causes. Common causes of arthritis include:
Normal wear and tear of joints with age is the most common cause of OA. Infection and injury can cause cartilage tissue breakdown, leading to OA. OA can also run in families, and your risk for the condition is higher if you have a family history of OA.
RA, PsA, and AS are autoimmune diseases that occur when the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissues, resulting in inflammation of the joints. The exact cause of why the immune system malfunctions is unknown, but researchers have discovered genetic markers related to all three conditions.
Immune System Disorders and Diseases
Risk factors for gout include being male, overweight, overconsumption of alcohol, eating purine-rich foods, and having certain health conditions (i.e., high blood pressure or diabetes).
How Is Arthritis Diagnosed?
The healthcare provider will also examine your foot and ankle for swelling and tenderness. You may be asked about your footwear to determine if your shoes provide sufficient support while walking.
A test called agait analysisis generally included in the physical examination. The healthcare provider will want to observe how you walk with this test.The test also examines the line-up of the bones of the feet, your stride, and the strength of the ankles and feet.
Additional testing for foot arthritis includes:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If you experience foot pain or find you are having gait problems, call a healthcare provider. Arthritis can cause severe pain, affect your mobility, and lead to joint damage.
Seek immediate medical care to rule out infection if you have a fever and any part of your foot is hot or inflamed.
Summary
Types of arthritis that can affect the feet include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, gout, and ankylosing spondylitis. Causes of foot arthritis are aging, injury, genes and familyhistory, and autoimmune disorders.
Diagnosing arthritis typically involves a review of symptoms and medical history, a physical examination, imaging, and lab work. You should make an appointment with a healthcare provider if you start experiencing foot pain that doesn’t resolve with rest or if you have problems walking.
A Word From Verywell
Arthritis can be a painful and disabling condition, especially if left untreated. Treatment for arthritis can focus on symptom relief and maintaining joint function to reduce the potential for disability. You might need to try different treatments or a combination of treatments before you find something that works best to manage your arthritis symptoms.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThe symptoms of arthritis in the foot will depend on the type of arthritis you have. For example, osteoarthritis affects the MTP joint that connects the big toe to the foot, and rheumatoid arthritis affects both feet simultaneously. It will cause inflammation of all or part of the foot in the same joints on both sides.Learn MoreThe Differences Between RA and Other Types of ArthritisWalking is a low-impact activity often recommended for people with arthritis to manage their condition.It can also help you lose weight and maintain it to lessen stress on joints and improve symptoms. If you find your foot arthritis affects your ability to walk, reach out to a healthcare provider to discuss your treatment options.Learn MoreIs Walking Good for Arthritis in the Knee?The wearing down of the joints of the feet commonly occurs as people age. Most people notice arthritis in their feet and other joints after age 40. However, it is possible to have symptoms of arthritis earlier, especially with autoimmune arthritis conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.Learn MoreCauses and Risk Factors of Arthritis
The symptoms of arthritis in the foot will depend on the type of arthritis you have. For example, osteoarthritis affects the MTP joint that connects the big toe to the foot, and rheumatoid arthritis affects both feet simultaneously. It will cause inflammation of all or part of the foot in the same joints on both sides.Learn MoreThe Differences Between RA and Other Types of Arthritis
The symptoms of arthritis in the foot will depend on the type of arthritis you have. For example, osteoarthritis affects the MTP joint that connects the big toe to the foot, and rheumatoid arthritis affects both feet simultaneously. It will cause inflammation of all or part of the foot in the same joints on both sides.
Learn MoreThe Differences Between RA and Other Types of Arthritis
Walking is a low-impact activity often recommended for people with arthritis to manage their condition.It can also help you lose weight and maintain it to lessen stress on joints and improve symptoms. If you find your foot arthritis affects your ability to walk, reach out to a healthcare provider to discuss your treatment options.Learn MoreIs Walking Good for Arthritis in the Knee?
Walking is a low-impact activity often recommended for people with arthritis to manage their condition.It can also help you lose weight and maintain it to lessen stress on joints and improve symptoms. If you find your foot arthritis affects your ability to walk, reach out to a healthcare provider to discuss your treatment options.
Learn MoreIs Walking Good for Arthritis in the Knee?
The wearing down of the joints of the feet commonly occurs as people age. Most people notice arthritis in their feet and other joints after age 40. However, it is possible to have symptoms of arthritis earlier, especially with autoimmune arthritis conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.Learn MoreCauses and Risk Factors of Arthritis
The wearing down of the joints of the feet commonly occurs as people age. Most people notice arthritis in their feet and other joints after age 40. However, it is possible to have symptoms of arthritis earlier, especially with autoimmune arthritis conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.
Learn MoreCauses and Risk Factors of Arthritis
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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