Without knowing exactly what your mother's problems are, it would be impossible to give a realistic suggestion that your mother can use. A lot depends on what type of arthritis your mother has, where exactly in the foot it is,and if anything has been tried before.

Sometimes the type of shoes worn does make a difference. Even more important is making sure your shoes aren't too run down and ready for the garbage. Many people wait too long to replace their running shoes.

Without proper support, injuries are more likely. This is especially true for folks with flat feet or other foot problems.

Flatfootedness is also called pes plano valgus or pronation. The calcaneus (heel bone) angles inward and the arch drops. Without support, the lack of an arch can cause foot pain and fatigue. Injury is a possible result.

Compartment syndrome is an acute medical problem. Swelling and loss of blood supply to an area of confined muscle define the condition. It develops following injury, surgery or in many cases, repetitive motion.

Increased pressure caused by inflammation within the confined space of a fascial compartment cuts off blood supply to the area. Without prompt treatment, nerve damage and muscle necrosis (death) can occur.

He could have a second bout of compartment syndrome. Having it once does increase the chances of getting it again. But it doesn't guarantee the problem will come back. Some of it depends on the original cause of the problem and the presence of any risk factors.

In this case report, orthopedic surgeons from Switzerland present a patient who developed an unusual type of compartment syndrome. Compartment syndrome is an increased amount of pressure from swelling inside a small space. Usually this occurs in an area where a group of muscles are contained by fascia (connective tissue lining).

Achilles' tendon injuries are fairly common. Getting ankle range-of-motion back can take quite some time. Finding a test that could be used to screen for injury-prone athletes could help prevent such injuries.

In this study, researchers from Japan look at the relationship between the Achilles' tendon and ankle joint flexibility. They show that stiffness of the Achilles' tendon account for decreased ankle joint motion.

In this study, motion control shoes were compared to neutral shoes in recreational runners with flat feet. The medical term for flat feet is pronation. Women who ran short distances (1.5 km or about one mile) several times a week were tested. They all had signs of over pronating.

Muscles along the inside of the ankle and foot called invertors are supposed to control foot pronation. Less active invertors place the foot at increased risk for injury.

Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain in the United States. The connective tissue along the bottom of the foot is usually involved. This band of tissue is referred to as the plantar aponeurosis or fascia. It runs from the base of the calcaneus (heel bone) to the base of the metatarsal (long toe) bones.

Stretching the calf muscle and/or the plantar fascia itself can be very effective. Improving ankle motion and flexibility can bring pain relief for many people who have this condition.