Another treatment option we will consider, if it's appropriate, is also physical therapy. Some arthritic processes in the foot are amenable to treatment with physical therapy and can improve. There are others that are more advanced that may not be amenable, and may not have the same response to physical therapy. Believe it or not, one simple, conservative thing that people can do to help their feet is stretching. One of the most common problems that we see in the foot and ankle is a tight achilles tendon. And, a tight achilles tendon, actually, can lead to problems with the foot such as arthritis, especially in someone who's flatfooted. This will cause extra strain through the midfoot, and can, actually, lead to further damage in the midfoot from not having as much movement through your ankle. When you roll over on your foot, you'll tend to put more stress through these joints, which can lead to premature arthritis.
