Joint Swelling in the Foot
The foot contains 26 bones and more than 30 joints. The
body’s natural response to any type of joint injury is to increase blood flow
to the affected area. This results in an accumulation of fluid in the tissues
in and around the joint, resulting in swelling. Depending on the cause of the
injury, joint swelling may be accompanied by stiffness, redness, warmth and
pain.
Joint swelling may also result from inflammatory,
degenerative, traumatic, infective, or crystal-forming joint diseases, such as
gout. If joint swelling persists, a foot and ankle surgeon can best determine
the cause and recommend the appropriate treatment.
Information provided by The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons