Foot arches come in all different shapes and sizes, and they also play an imperative part in help our feet handle the stress of our body weight. However, as a result of the repetitive stress they handle when we move or due to an acute moment of overstress, it’s not uncommon for people in all walks of life to develop arch pain. As you can imagine, arch pain can cause discomfort with every step, and that’s no way to go through life.
If you’re dealing with arch pain, even if it’s sporadic or mild, you owe it to yourself to proactively treat the issue and help it resolve. In today’s blog, we share some tips for helping to ease and relieve your arch pain.
Why Are My Arches Aching?
Arch pain can develop for a number of different reasons, but if you can work to pinpoint why you’re dealing with arch pain, it may be easier to pursue the right types of treatment for your issue. Some of the most common causes of pain in the arch region include:
Plantar Fasciitis – Plantar fasciitis involves inflammation of the thick band of tissue on the underside of your arch.
Flat Foot – A flattening of your foot arch can also lead to discomfort as this changes how stress is dispersed along your foot.
High Arches – People with unnaturally high arches may find that their arches begin to hurt when they are overstressed or when wearing shoes that are not designed to support such a high foot arch.
Posterior Tibial Tendon Disorder – PTTD is a condition that affects the tendon that helps to support your foot arch, so if it can’t provide as much natural support, your arch may take on more stress and become irritated more easily.
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome – Compression of the tibial nerve in the lower ankle and foot can also lead to discomfort in the arch region.
Treating Arch Pain
If you’re dealing with arch pain and you are unsure of what’s causing it, consider connecting with a foot and ankle specialist like Dr. Silverman. He’ll be able to get to the bottom of your issue and set you up with an individualized care plan to help you put an end to your discomfort. You can also attempt some of the following treatment techniques and see how your arch pain responds before calling in professional help. Here are some common ways to manage and treat arch discomfort:
RICE – RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation, and it’s a great way to treat overstress injuries or mild soft tissue strains. Limit the amount of stress you put on your feet, and use cold packs, compression and elevation to help manage swelling. If you’ve been hard on your feet, pamper them a bit with some RICE. Your arches will thank you for it.
Physical Therapy – Sometimes our arch discomfort is the result of weakened muscles and soft tissues that help to support your foot arch. If these areas are weaker, the arch handles more stress, and this stress can damage, irritate or inflame the area. Physical therapy helps to strengthen the supportive structures that stabilize your arch, protecting it from additional stress and ensuring its strong enough to handle the stress you do put on it.
Weight Loss – Similarly, losing a little bit of weight can help to take additional strain off the area. It’s a great idea to keep in mind if you are overweight and you are looking to take stress off your arches for the long term.
Custom Orthotics – Custom orthotic inserts can do wonders for people with rather extreme foot shapes. Those with high arches or flat feet could benefit from an insert that aids in stress distribution so that certain areas of your arch are not overworked.