Osteoarthritis of the feet

Your feet

The foot is made up of three areas:

The ankle (hindfoot)
The middle of your foot (midfoot)
The toes (forefoot). It has 26 bones and 33 joints.

Your feet support your body weight, so its not surprising if your experience pain or discomfort in this area.

If your pain is constant, you should see your doctor who help help determine if you have osteoarthritis (OA) in the joints in your feet.

How osteoarthritis affects your feet

OA can affect any joint in your feet and toes. This may cause pain, swelling and stiffness. OA is commonly found in the big toe joint and/or midfoot and occasionally causes stiffness and a bony lump. Sometimes, this can make standing and walking painful. You may also find your feet and/or toes change shape (particularly by getting flatter), making it harder to fit shoes. Here are some things that may help you manage such symptoms.

Exercise and foot osteoarthritis

Exercise is important to keep your joints moving. One type of exercise is no better than another for OA. However, you may need to try different types of exercise if you have painful feet. For example, consider exercising in water. The buoyancy of the water takes pressure off your ankles and feet and you may find you can move more freely than you can on land. For more information see the ‘Water exercise’ fact sheet. Strength training and cycling are also good forms of exercise that do not put as much pressure on sore feet as running. When you are exercising, make sure you wear supportive, comfortable shoes that fit appropriately, and remember to replace them regularly. See the ‘Exercise’ fact sheet for more information.

Weight loss and foot osteoarthritis

One of the best ways to take pressure off painful feet is to lose any extra body weight. Being overweight can worsen your symptoms, as your joints need to carry more weight. See the section above for tips on exercise if you have arthritis of the feet. You may find it useful to see a dietitian for advice about healthy eating. Also see the ‘Weight control management’ fact sheet for more information.

What else can I do for osteoarthritis?

There are other treatments that may help you deal with pain and stiffness:

Medicine: Many different types of medicines can help the symptoms of arthritis. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you understand which medicine are right for you and how best to use them. Even natural and over-the-counter medicines can have side effects.
Acknowledge your feelings and seek support: It is natural to feel scared, frustrated, sad and sometimes angry when you have pain. Be aware of these feelings and get help if necessary. You can learn skills to recognise and calm anxiety or strong emotions if you find they start to affect your daily life.
Creams: Applying creams or ointments to the skin in the affected area may help control pain. Creams containing anti-inflammatory medicines or capsaicin (an ingredient in cayenne and chilli peppers) may be useful, but this has not been proven by research studies. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about these types of creams.
Glucosamine and chondroitin: It is unclear if glucosamine or chondroitin are useful for feet affected by arthritis. See the Complementary medicines treatment for more information.
Fish oils: Fish oils may be useful for some forms of arthritis that affect the feet, although this has not been proven by research studies. See the Nutrition treatment for more information.
Herbal therapies: There is no conclusive proof that herbal medicines are effective in treating arthritis of the feet. However, see the Complementary medicines treatment for more information.

Other resources

State and Territory Arthritis Offices

Your local Arthritis Office can provide further information to assist you and will have a range of education and support activities. Click here to find your local office. https://arthritisaustralia.com.au/get-support/find-support-near-you/

Independent Living Centres (ILCs)

These centres provide information about products and services to help people remain independent and improve their quality of life. They are located in each capital city. See www.ilcaustralia.org.au or call the National ILC Infoline on 1300 885 886 to find your closest centre and more information. (In Queensland, the Independent Living Centre is called LifeTec).