If your foot arch feels stiff or even painful with your first steps in the morning or after an extended seated period, you’re not alone. Tens of thousands of Americans deal with this type of sensation every day, and their discomfort can range from mildly irritating to downright debilitating. But what could be causing this pain, and how can it be best treated? We answer those questions and more in today’s blog.
Causes Of Arch Pain When Walking
For many individuals, the onset of arch pain may be sudden, but it doesn’t always occur as a result of an acute moment of injury. In other words, while it’s possible to injure your arch in a specific moment of overloaded stress, oftentimes this discomfort is the result of micro-trauma and stress over the years that eventually leads to symptoms. That’s why it’s often so puzzling as to why the condition develops, because you can’t easily point to a specific moment of injury.
Some factors that may put you at risk for arch pain include:
- Being overweight, or recent weight gain
- The natural aging process
- Chronic foot stress/overuse
- Certain neurological conditions
- Structural issues (high arches, flat feet, etc.)
As for the actual cause of arch pain, the most common underlying reason for mild to severe arch pain when walking is due to the onset of plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is a condition that involves inflammation or tearing of the thick band of tissue that runs from your heel to your forefoot. This band of tissue is known as the plantar fascia helps to support your foot arch and handle stress with every step your take.
Inflammation or injury to the plantar fascia can lead to a cycle that is tough to break free from. Rest and physical therapy are the best ways to treat plantar fasciitis, but because the pain tends to start off as mild or moderate, many people continue to try to go about their day as if nothing is wrong. This continued stress only prolongs the condition or leads to additional inflammation and tearing, compounding the problem.
Treating Plantar Fasciitis
As we mentioned above, you need to treat the plantar fasciitis head on if you want to see the best results, and the problem will likely get worse if you try to push through the discomfort. So if you’re starting to deal with arch pain, especially if the discomfort is worse in the morning or after sitting for an extended period, set up an appointment with Dr. Silverman or an orthopedic specialist in your area.
They’ll begin by asking about your symptoms, reviewing your medical history and conducting a physical exam to look for physical signs of plantar fasciitis. Imaging tests are not typically necessary, but they may be ordered to rule out other possibilities like a stress fracture.
Once a diagnosis has been made, your doctor will walk your through an individualized treatment plan. In most cases, plantar fasciitis responds well to conservative care, so treatment oftentimes involves a combination of:
- Rest
- Bracing
- Custom orthotics
- Physical therapy
- Stretching exercises
Rest and bracing are helpful in the short-term, but to drive long-term results, you need to pursue more active treatments like physical therapy and stretching. Your specialist can walk you through some specific exercises and even set you up with a physical therapist to ensure you progress through your rehab as expected.
So if you’re dealing with arch pain, know that it could get worse if you ignore it, and that will make every step a little more painful. Instead, sync up with Dr. Silverman and let him see if plantar fasciitis or another foot issue is to blame. Once a diagnosis is made, he’ll ensure you get set up with a personalized treatment plan to have you walking without pain in no time.