Rheumatoid Arthritis and Foot Pain: How Bespoke Orthopaedic Footwear can offer relief and support
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune condition that affects the joints, often causing inflammation, swelling, stiffness and pain, particularly in the feet and ankles. For many people living with RA, everyday walking and standing can become challenging and painful.
Handcrafted Bespoke Orthopaedic Footwear can offer a highly effective solution for managing symptoms, improving foot health, enhancing comfort, mobility and quality of life.
How does Rheumatoid Arthritis affect the feet?
Eheumatoid arthritis causes the immune system to mistakenly attack the healthy joint tissue, leading to chronic inflammation and joint damage. Around 90% of people with RA experience symptoms in their feet and ankles at some point. These symptoms include pain and tenderness in the forefoot or heel, joint swelling and deformity, difficulty walking or standing for long periods, numbness or tingling in the toes, increased pressure on specific areas of the foot and possibly the development of bunions, hammertoes or collapsed arches.
As the condition progresses, RA can lead to permanent joint changes, making it much harder to find supportive, comfortable footwear.
Wearing improper shoes can often worsen the symptoms, increase the risk of falls and contribute to further joint damage, but this wear Bespoke Orthopaedic Footwear can become a complete game-changing solution.
Who can benefit from Bespoke Orthopaedic Footwear for RA?
Anyone suffering with any of the symptoms mentioned above can really benefit from Bespoke Orthopaedic Footwear, if you are having difficulty finding comfortable properly fitting footwear, if you have moderate to severe foot deformities, if you find you need to wear custom orthotics or braces, if you are experiencing daily foot pain and stiffness or are finding you have balance or mobility challenges.
How Bespoke Footwear can help with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Bespoke Orthopaedic shoes and footwear are individually handcrafted based on your own precise measurements, foot assessments, and medical needs. For people with Rheumatoid arthritis, they provide essential relief by addressing specific biomechanical and structural requirements.
Our custom made footwear are made to fit comfortably around bunions, hammertoes, nodules and swollen joints, key features include deep, wide toe boxes that can help prevent pressure points and reduce friction and rubbing.
RA can cause joints to become extremely sensitive, bespoke footwear can incorporate cushioned, custom made footbeds and orthotics, allowing extra room within the footwear, to help protect sore areas and reduce impact.
Foot misalignment from RA can cause many walking difficulties such as limping or overcompensation, our bespoke footwear feature rocker soles or other modifications that can help correct gait, improving balance and mobility, easing forefoot pressure.
Bespoke cushioned inserts and footbeds can help provide arch support, while our structured heel stiffeners can provide stability to weakened or collapsing arches, which in turn can help to reduce foot fatigue when standing or walking.
Our soft and supple leathers create an excellent breathable material to create an upper that is as seamless as possible to prevent the development of blisters, ulcers, and calluses, which may form more quickly due to unusual foot shape or decreased sensitivity. Easy-fastenings are an essential for wearers that are also suffering with arthritic hands.
Why Bespoke Orthopaedic Footwear is a smart investment for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Bespoke shoes are not just about comfort, they also provide essential protection for your feet, protecting your joints, improving your mobility and maintaining independence. By reducing foot pain and accommodating changes caused by rheumatoid arthritis, particularly if you tend to spend long hours on your feet, are active and what to stay mobile, need footwear that accommodating of orthotics or assistive devices or have undergone foot surgery or Joint fusion, custom handcrafted footwear will allow you to move more freely and confidently.
If you would like any further help and advice please do not hesitate to contact the team at their Cotswold workshop on 01386 700855 or enquiries@billbird.co.uk