Arch pain can affect your comfort, your mood, and your health. It is often said, "when your feet hurt you hurt all over your body". In a recent survey conducted by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) of 1,000 adults 18 years of age or older a staggering 72% say they do not exercise because foot pain prevents them from doing so.
Arch pain is a very common condition that causes patients to seek the help of a podiatrist. The causes of this problem could be an inherited muscle or bone problem, an injury or bruise,wearing improperly fitted shoes, a style of shoe that is incorrect for the foot shape of the person, or a once good shoe that has worn out.
A common symptom is pain in the arch of the foot when getting out of bed or after sitting for a while. This is an inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick band of fibrous connective tissue that attaches to the heel bone, runs across the bottom of the foot, and then fans out to connect at the base of each toe. Excessive walking, running, or jumping flattens and stretches the plantar fascia. The stress of the activities on the feet can cause small tears in the plantar fascia resulting in pain and inflammation with continued use.
Treatment varies on the type, cause and severity of the arch pain. Sometimes it is as easy as cutting back on activities that put the stress on your foot for a short time while your foot heals. Other times a short course of anti-inflammatory medication, taken orally or by injection is used. Physical therapy, foot exercises for strengthening and stretching, or night splints can also be used.
If you have flat feet, that is to say low arches or no arch, or if you have excessively high arches foot pain can result from the lack of support and balance. These problems are often effectively treated with the use of devices called orthotics.
Orthotics are custom made prescription inserts that are made from a cast impression of your feet and are worn in the shoe. They are intended to correct an imbalance and add needed support to the feet. A podiatrist who is experienced in biomechanics and orthopedics of the foot may prescribe orthotic devices (also called orthoses) to hep your feet function better.
Never ignore an injury or pain no matter how minor it may seem. The pain from an injury could cause you to favor the injured foot, resulting in potentially permanent knee or back problems.
Arch pain is a very common condition that causes patients to seek the help of a podiatrist. The causes of this problem could be an inherited muscle or bone problem, an injury or bruise,wearing improperly fitted shoes, a style of shoe that is incorrect for the foot shape of the person, or a once good shoe that has worn out.
A common symptom is pain in the arch of the foot when getting out of bed or after sitting for a while. This is an inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick band of fibrous connective tissue that attaches to the heel bone, runs across the bottom of the foot, and then fans out to connect at the base of each toe. Excessive walking, running, or jumping flattens and stretches the plantar fascia. The stress of the activities on the feet can cause small tears in the plantar fascia resulting in pain and inflammation with continued use.
Treatment varies on the type, cause and severity of the arch pain. Sometimes it is as easy as cutting back on activities that put the stress on your foot for a short time while your foot heals. Other times a short course of anti-inflammatory medication, taken orally or by injection is used. Physical therapy, foot exercises for strengthening and stretching, or night splints can also be used.
If you have flat feet, that is to say low arches or no arch, or if you have excessively high arches foot pain can result from the lack of support and balance. These problems are often effectively treated with the use of devices called orthotics.
Orthotics are custom made prescription inserts that are made from a cast impression of your feet and are worn in the shoe. They are intended to correct an imbalance and add needed support to the feet. A podiatrist who is experienced in biomechanics and orthopedics of the foot may prescribe orthotic devices (also called orthoses) to hep your feet function better.
Never ignore an injury or pain no matter how minor it may seem. The pain from an injury could cause you to favor the injured foot, resulting in potentially permanent knee or back problems.
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