Foot Osteoarthritis

At Masterton Foot Clinic, we focus on helping people remain active and independent by improving joint function, reducing pain, and identifying practical strategies that reduce stress on affected joints.

What is foot osteoarthritis?

Foot osteoarthritis is a condition affecting the joints of the foot. It occurs when the tissues that make up a joint—including cartilage, bone, ligaments, the joint lining (synovium), and surrounding muscles—undergo changes over time.

At the time of writing, osteoarthritis is no longer considered simply a "wear and tear" condition. Current evidence suggests it is an active joint disease involving changes throughout the entire joint.

The joints most commonly affected include:

• The big toe joint.
• The midfoot.
• The ankle.
• The joints beneath the ankle (subtalar joint).

Because the foot contains 33 joints, even arthritis affecting a single joint can significantly influence the way you walk and move.

Symptoms

Common symptoms include:

• Pain during walking or standing.
• Joint stiffness, particularly after rest.
• Swelling around the joint.
• Reduced movement.
• Difficulty walking on uneven ground.
• Pain during exercise.
• Changes in walking pattern.
• Difficulty wearing certain footwear.

Causes

Foot osteoarthritis may develop following:

• Previous injury.
• Repetitive loading over many years.
• Previous fractures or severe sprains.
• Age-related joint changes.
• Certain foot shapes or deformities.
• Inflammatory joint disease.
• Genetic factors.

Many people develop osteoarthritis through a combination of factors rather than a single cause.

When should you see a podiatrist?

We recommend an assessment if:

• Foot pain is limiting your walking or exercise.
• Joint stiffness is becoming more noticeable.
• You are changing the way you walk because of pain.
• Every day activities are becoming more difficult.
• Footwear has become uncomfortable.
• Your symptoms are gradually worsening.

Early assessment often allows conservative treatment to begin before pain and stiffness have a greater impact on your mobility.

How foot arthritis affects movement

Your feet and legs work as one connected system.

Almost every muscle in the lower leg attaches to the foot, helping to control walking, balance, and stability. When one or more joints become painful or stiff, the way these muscles work also changes.

People often unconsciously alter the way they walk to avoid painful joints. Over time, this may increase loading elsewhere in the foot, ankle, knee, hip, or lower back.

Rather than simply treating the painful joint, we assess how your entire lower limb functions to identify ways to improve movement and reduce unnecessary stress.

How we treat foot osteoarthritis

At the time of writing, current evidence supports education, exercise, appropriate footwear, weight management where appropriate, and activity modification as the foundation of osteoarthritis management.

Treatment is tailored to your symptoms, lifestyle, and goals and may include:

• Education about osteoarthritis.
• Footwear advice.
• Orthopaedic Footwear, where appropriate.
• Custom Foot Orthoses.
• Foot Mobilisation Therapy (FMT), where appropriate.
• Strength and rehabilitation programmes.
• Activity and load management.
• Referral for imaging where appropriate.
• Referral to your GP or orthopaedic specialist if more advanced treatment is required.

Our goal is to reduce pain, improve movement, and help you remain active for as long as possible.