Can Arthritis Be Prevented?

There are many causes and types of arthritis, a catch-all category of inflammatory conditions that affect the joints of your body. Arthritis often causes discomfort and pain while also reducing flexibility and mobility. 

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of the condition, and the foot is no exception. OA is a wear-and-tear disease that has no cure and is usually progressive. Because aging and injury are associated with OA, true prevention is difficult, but you can reduce your risk or slow its progression with some attention to lifestyle. 

At Hudson Valley Foot Associates in Kingston, New Windsor, Wappingers Falls, Hudson, Red Hook, Margaretville, and West Coxsackie, New York, we’re here to help with any foot-related condition, including arthritis. In this month’s blog, let’s take a closer look at arthritis of the feet.

Arthritis in the feet

Nearly any form of arthritis can affect the feet in some way, but the most common are OA, the autoimmune disorder rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and post-traumatic arthritis, a condition that follows an injury.   

Any form of arthritis can affect the way you walk, your balance, or your ability to take care of yourself or complete everyday tasks. 

Can arthritis be prevented?

Taking steps to avoid foot injuries can reduce your risk of post-traumatic arthritis and may help to lower your risk of OA, though it’s difficult to know how effective this can be, since there are many other contributing factors, including your family’s genetics. 

RA develops from an autoimmune condition, and there’s very little you can do to guarantee prevention. You might be able to reduce your risk of RA by modifying your lifestyle. Steps include: 

• Quitting smoking
• Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) if you work in dusty industrial environments, particularly those containing silica
• Following solid dental hygiene practices
• Choosing an anti-inflammatory diet

In fact, many of these RA-specific tips are good overall health practices, and may help you ward off other forms of arthritis too. 

Aim for prevention

Developing arthritis may have more than one contributing factor. Following some key strategies may help reduce your risk of developing arthritis in your feet. 

Achieve and maintain a healthy weight

OA is a result of wear and tear on the joints, so maintaining an optimal body weight reduces stress on your feet and ankles. This helps to preserve cartilage tissue. 

Choose support over style

Arch support and cushioned insoles help not only the feet, but also the knees, hips, and lower back. Fashionable shoes like heels or sandals often prioritize style over comfort and support. Minimize the time you spend wearing these. 

Stay active

Moderate, low-impact activity like biking, swimming, and walking can stimulate circulation while gently flexing the joints of your feet, keeping them limber, strong, and stable. 

Manage your health

Seeking treatment and controlling inflammatory conditions helps to lessen the load on joints overall, throughout your body, and not just your feet. 

Contact Hudson Valley Foot Associates to learn more about what you can do to prevent the onset of arthritis in your feet, or to minimize the impact if arthritis has already begun. Call or click to book your next visit today.