What is Enthesopathy?
Enthesopathy occurs when there is inflammation at the connection site between soft tissue and bone. Enthesopathy is also known as Enthesitis. Enthesopathy can affect parts of the body other than the foot, such as the knee, ankle, spine and hip.
Causes
Enthesopathy of the foot is often associated with Plantar Fasciitis, as it affects the Plantar Fascia tissue where it connects to the heel bone.
Enthesopathy can also be caused by various forms of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis.
Obesity can put you at greater risk of developing Enthesopathy.
Signs & Symptoms
Signs and symptoms associated with Foot Enthesopathy include:
- Pain, especially when you are on your feet
- Swelling
- Reduced range of motion
- Stiffness
Treatment
Treating the underlying condition or injury that has resulted in your Enthesopathy is the most effective way to relieve your symptoms. Treatments will differ depending on the cause of your Enthesopathy.
Weight Loss – If your Enthesopathy could have been brought on by excess weight, losing weight can help lessen the strain on your foot. Putting too much strain on the feet can result in Plantar Fasciitis, which is one of the top conditions associated with Enthesopathy.
Exercise – As well as a great way to lose weight, exercise also helps keep the feet mobile, which helps with circulation and joint health.
RICE – Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation can help relieve your symptoms, no matter what the cause of your Enthesopathy is. Resting the knee will prevent re-injury. Ice and 
Compression work together to alleviate pain and swelling. Elevate your knee above your heart using a pillow, as this will control the inflammation.
Activity Modification – If you are a runner, this could be the reason you have Plantar Fasciitis, and in turn, Enthesopathy. Giving up running in exchange for an activity that puts less stress on the feet, such as swimming, can help alleviate your symptoms.
NSAIDs – Painkillers such as ibuprofen and naproxen will work to relieve your pain and inflammation. It’s important to remember that painkillers should only be used when you’re resting. Taking painkillers when you’re active will only result in further injury.
DMARDs – If your Enthesopathy is related to rheumatoid arthritis, you may need to take disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, as these can help control the inflammation, which works to slow deterioration of the tissue in your knee joint.
Surgery – When it comes to Enthesopathy, surgery is not required in most cases. Surgery should not be considered unless all other treatment methods have failed to relieve your symptoms. Your options for surgery will depend on what underlying condition you have.