Regional musculoskeletal conditions: foot and ankle disorders

Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2003 Feb;17(1):87-111. doi: 10.1016/s1521-6942(02)00103-1.

Abstract

Foot pain is very common, especially in women, owing to inappropriate footwear. Overuse, repetitive strain and minor, easily forgettable injuries may result in chronic foot and ankle pain. Rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathies and gout frequently affect the foot, often as a first presentation. Charcot's joints and foot infections are not rare in diabetes. The rheumatologist should be familiar with foot disorders, either localized or as manifestations of generalized disease. History taking, physical examination, identification of the source of pain by intra-articularly given local anaesthetics and imaging methods should be used to reveal the underlying disorder. Correct diagnosis and efficient therapy-including local steroid injections, physiotherapy, orthoses, surgery-are necessary not only for treatment but also for preventing biomechanical chain reactions. This chapter gives an overview of the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of foot pain and foot disorders caused by both local and generalized diseases.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Ankle
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / physiopathology
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / therapy
  • Diabetic Foot / physiopathology*
  • Diabetic Foot / therapy
  • Foot Diseases / diagnosis
  • Foot Diseases / epidemiology
  • Foot Diseases / therapy
  • Heel
  • Humans
  • Musculoskeletal Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Musculoskeletal Diseases / physiopathology
  • Musculoskeletal Diseases / therapy*
  • Pain / etiology*
  • Pain Management
  • Tarsal Bones