Over 10 million people in the UK have arthritis or related joint conditions, with osteoarthritis being the most common type, affecting nearly nine million of the population.
Arthritis is the inflammation of the joints – and sometimes tendons and ligaments – caused by the breakdown of the connective, cushioning tissues and cartilage. The word ‘arthritis’ itself is a term that describes over 100 different diseases and although it’s still not well understood, experts assume that genetics can be an influencing factor in arthritis.
But just because your relative had arthritis pain doesn’t mean you will do.
In this article, we’ll look at how genetics can influence arthritis, what genes and markers you can test for to understand your own risk of developing the inflammatory condition and how specific measures, like wearing shoes with arch support for men and women can help prevent or slow down progressing arthritis.
WHAT DOES GENETICS HAVE TO DO WITH ARTHRITIS?
A hereditary or genetic condition refers to an issue that runs in families. In other words, genetics may predispose you to develop certain diseases.
While some disorders come from your chromosomes, others like cancer, diabetes, migraines and arthritis, are considered ‘complex’ or ‘multi-factoral’. Genetics can play a role, but so can other external factors like lifestyle habits, environment or the use of certain medications.
Like many other medical conditions, the connection between having a genetic predisposition and developing arthritis is complicated. Although some types of arthritis include genetic factors, it can be challenging to know exactly how genetics influences a person’s unique experience of arthritis.
Let’s look at four of the most common types of arthritis and how genetics plays a role in each:
1. Osteoarthritis
Also known as wear-and-tear arthritis, osteoarthritis gets its name from cartilage degeneration and eventual loss between joints. People with osteoarthritis experience:
- Chronic pain and tenderness in the affected area
- Swelling
- Limited or reduced range of motion
According to health professionals, there may be a type of osteoarthritis caused by genetics. In this form of the disease, there are mutations in the genes that produce collagen, making the cartilage around the joint more likely to break down.
About 40-65% of osteoarthritis cases have some kind of genetic component. However, osteoarthritis is a true multi-factoral disease, since no single gene causes the condition and external factors can influence it.
2. Rheumatoid Arthritis
This is the only type of arthritis that is tied to genetic variants, even though other outside factors, like smoking cigarettes or high stress, could also be at play. Unlike osteoarthritis, which is mostly natural degradation of tissues, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that attacks the lining around the joints. The most common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Swelling around the joints
- Nodules under the skin of the affected area (usually the elbows and hands)
Though the exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, it’s believed that over 100 different genes could impact it.
3. Ankylosing spondylitis
This type of arthritis is slightly more rare and, like rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis is an autoimmune disease most commonly found in the spine. The disease can eventually cause the vertebrae to fuse.
People with this condition often experience the following:
- Dull chronic pain in the lower back and glutes
- Inflammation where connective tissues meet the bone, like in the arch of the foot
- Eye trouble, including blurred vision
Experts believe that about 60 different genes could be tied to ankylosing spondylitis, most having to do with the immune system and inflammation.
4. Psoriatic Arthritis
Like rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, this arthritis is an inflammatory autoimmune disease. Psoriatic arthritis often crops up in people who have psoriasis, where the immune system attacks healthy skin cells, causing red, scaly skin.
Psoriatic Arthritis often results in the following:
- Sausage-like swelling in the fingers and toes
- Pain and swelling in a joint, accompanied by a psoriasis spot
- Fatigue
Though genetics play a minor role in psoriatic arthritis, there may be a possibility of heritability. About 40% of people with psoriatic arthritis have a close family member with the same disease.
Genetics aren’t the only factor that determines whether or not you’ll end up with arthritis. Other elements to consider include:
- Age: arthritis tends to affect people over 50 and can be a natural aspect of getting older
- Weight: carrying excess body weight can put more strain on your joints, which may cause cartilage to break down faster
- Gender: although arthritis can impact any person, regardless of gender ,certain types may affect females more than males and vice versa. Females may be more likely to suffer from osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis more often, while men are more likely to struggle with ankylosing spondylitis
- Injury: dislocations or fractured joints may lead to post-traumatic arthritis
- Overuse of joints: athletes or people in certain professions may be more likely to experience joint pain and arthritis due to repetitive motions that put stress on the joints
ARTHRITIS AND PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
Regardless of your genetics, there are some preventative measures you can take to help reduce your risk of arthritis or delay the onset of symptoms, including:
- Maintaining a healthy diet and weight
- Avoiding smoking cigarettes
- Playing sports with the proper safety equipment
- Staying active through a mix of mobility exercises, strength training and aerobic exercise
- Wearing comfortable, supportive shoes
HOW THE PROPER FOOTWEAR CAN HELP YOU MANAGE ARTHRITIS
If you suffer from arthritis in your feet, the chances are you find any kind of movement painful. Fortunately, the correct footwear can help minimise stress in your joints with:
- Arch support: enhanced arch support reduces pressure on affected joints, making it less painful to walk around.
- Proper cushioning: supportive shoes use cushioning in the midsole for better shock absorption and more power as you move.
- More size options: arthritis in the feet can cause more swelling than usual, as well as bone deformities like claw toes and bone spurs. Wider shoes and a square-toe box can give your feet more room.
SHOES FOR ARTHRITIS SUFFERERS
Living with arthritis doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy stylish shoes. In fact, at Vionic, we make all of our shoes with comfort and style in mind. In particular, our biomechanically engineered footbeds, deep heel cups and flexible designs ensure high-quality support that will keep you moving forward.
Best walking trainers for arthritis sufferers
If you struggle with arthritis, you may be tempted to forgo exercise but experts agree that exercise is actually one of the best ways to manage symptoms.
Walking is a great exercise for arthritis and one of Vionic’s best-selling trainers designed for walking is the 23 Walk 2.0, available for both men (above) and women. With a durable construction, these trainers provide legendary support and retro style, making them a firm customer favourite.
Best office shoes for arthritis
Business shoes don’t have to be stiff and uncomfortable. Vionic combines timeless styles for the office with serious support for an eye-catching shoe you can wear all day long. For women, try the Carmel – a classic pump reimagined for all-around comfort in luxe materials, with a stylised block heel and elegant round toe or the Orinda 2 ballet flat – a sophisticated, classic flat, with a supportive , removable orthotic, designed with exclusive alignment technology to balance the whole you.
Men’s styles suitable for the office include the Lombard Oxford – a lace-up shoe featuring wingtip styling and brogue detail with a rugged sole and VIO MOTION technology providing a deep heel cup and arch support for comfortable all-day wear – or the more casual Uptown loafer – with its ultra-flexible, rugged outsole. Featuring buttery soft tumbled leather, this slip-on loafer combines modern style with all-day wearability. Designed for casual versatility, it’s built to move with you.
Best summer shoes for arthritis sufferers
Simply living your everyday life doesn’t have to be painful, either. Discover comfort in the styles you love, from the versatility of the Bella toe-post to the summery vibes of the Rosa strappy platform for women.
Men’s summer styles include the Tide II toe post slider and the Walk Max Wanderer sandal.
For more information about Vionic’s VIO MOTION technology, click here.
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