Judicious administration of intra-articular cortisone injections may also be helpful. In patients who have advanced rheumatoid arthritis, an arthrodesis is indicated for the talonavicular joint. Diabetic Foot Diabetic patients are encouraged to participate in sports to improve their health and help control their disease. However, sports participation may compromise the health of both type 1 and type 2 diabetics, because their feet can be vulnerable to the stresses of exercise. The primary cause of diabetic foot problems is a peripheral neuropathy that allows excessive pressure to go undetected, resulting in soft-tissue lesions and eventually bony disorders.
Diabetics also have coexisting circulatory impairment, which delays healing.
Since diabetics' foot problems range from mild insensitivity to more serious problems such as neuropathic plantar ulceration, circulatory disturbances, and neuroarthropathy, educating diabetic patients about potential foot complications is extremely important. The number of middle-aged men and women who are physically active or competitively athletic has increased. When injured, they are no more willing than younger active adults to give up their exercise routines or sports participation. Foot ailments are common in middle age, and many problems, if detected early, are easily treated with simple, conservative measures. Patient education, wearing proper shoes, using orthoses when necessary, and sensible exercise routines are all key measures to ensure that middle-aged patients continue a lifetime of physical activity and fitness.