Joint Health for Feet

Generally, arthritis is used to describe a breakdown of the joint surface, or cartilage, inside a joint. Each foot contains approximately 33 joints. Combined, the feet account for almost 20 percent of the joints in the human body!

It is not uncommon to see arthritis in the foot. This increases over time with age. There are many things that can be done to help prevent or slow down arthritis. Having a good-quality shoe with a good-quality arch support or custom orthotic can help decrease the strain on the joints of the feet, thus decreasing the potential to develop arthritis. Good-quality arch supports, or custom orthotics, can also help decrease the symptoms of arthritis and potentially slow down the progression.

Arch supports come in many shapes and sizes, and all are not created equal. It may be difficult to determine what, if any, arch support is the correct one. To find out if you need an arch support or custom orthotic, consult a local podiatrist.

Source: Dr. Thomas Chambers, of Foot and Ankle Wellness, located at 5520 E. Main St., Ste. 2, in Mesa. Chambers is a podiatrist who specializes in both nonsurgical and surgical bunion treatments. His surgical training was completed at the VA Hospital, in Tucson. For more information, call 480-985-3730 or visit FootAndAnkleAZ.com.