Research from the Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre at Keele University has shown that foot osteoarthritis is more common than previously thought, impacting one in six UK adults over the age of 50 – over 3.5 million people.
The study is the first research into foot osteoarthritis to factor in pain and the impact on people’s lives. It included over 5,000 people to investigate the condition, which affects the joints and causes around one million people to visit their GP every year. Typical features include inflammation in and around the joints, damage to cartilage and swelling of the bone, causing pain, stiffness and difficulty moving.
The research found painful foot osteoarthritis affects women more than men, with the condition becoming more common in people who have spent their lives predominantly in manual work. Three quarters of people with painful foot osteoarthritis reported having difficulty with simple day-to-day activities such as walking, standing, housework and shopping.
Dr Edward Roddy, clinical senior lecturer in rheumatology at Keele University, said: “Foot osteoarthritis is a more common and disabling problem than we previously thought, making everyday tasks difficult and painful for people affected. Much of the previous research has focused on the hip and knee areas, and research into the foot has concentrated almost entirely on the ‘bunion joint’ at the base of the big toe. However, by looking at the whole foot and the impact on people’s lives, it is clear that the problem is more widespread than we anticipated.”
