Our foot arches serve a quietly important role in standing, walking, jumping, and running. The arch in the foot supports your posture and facilitates proper gait.
Because you use your feet so often throughout the day, your foot arches are susceptible to pain. Let’s talk about some of the main causes of arch pain and where you can go to receive treatment.
What Causes Pain in the Foot Arches?
In addition to overuse, here are a few of the most common causes of arch pain:
Weight Gain
Because your foot arches support your full body weight when standing up, they can experience pain when you gain weight. The additional weight adds downward pressure, strain, and stress to your feet.
Aging
Getting older affects everything, including your foot arches. The bones in the feet incur wear and tear from general use over time, and the cartilage gradually wears out as well. The ligaments in your feet may also stretch out and lose their structural integrity, affecting the height of your foot arch. These changes contribute to pain in your arches and may develop into flat feet.
Overpronation
Overpronation is a term used to describe how your foot moves while walking, running, or jogging. It is the way in which your feet land on the outer back edge of your heel first, and then roll forward onto the arch and through to the toes: In overpronation, the foot rolls too far inward due to a lack of support from the arches.
This issue causes arch, heel, and ankle pain. Over time, your pain may worsen and reach your knee, hip, and back. If not properly addressed by a doctor, it can lead to plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, and bunions.
Plantar Fasciitis
The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that supports your foot along the bottom, between the heel and the toes. Extreme tension and stress on this part of your feet can result in tears, irritation, and inflammation, contributing to arch pain. The cause of plantar fasciitis is multifactorial, but overuse, age, and obesity increase your risk.
Flat Feet
This condition is characterized by having flat arches on the insides of your feet. It usually develops during childhood, but injury and aging may also cause this condition. Although having flat feet is often painless, it can contribute to other foot problems as it alters posture and alignment of your legs.
Arch Pain Relief in Cincinnati
If you are experiencing chronic or recurrent arch pain, or if you notice swelling and weakness in your feet, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Here at Cincinnati Foot & Ankle Care, our medical team has been successfully diagnosing and treating foot problems for decades, helping our patients get back on their feet and back in action. We also provide custom orthotics and diabetic shoes, depending on what your feet need to keep you in step.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, call our friendly staff today by calling the location nearest you or by filling out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to helping you enjoy a pain-free, active lifestyle once again.
