What Causes Pain in The Arch of The Foot?
Foot arch pain is generally caused by an inflammation of the arch of the foot and can cause significant discomfort when walking or placing the weight of the body upon the feet.
The pain in the arch of the foot is often described as a burning sensation, and without treatment, rarely goes away on its own.
There can be many reasons why the inflammation occurs, such as a structural imbalance, or possibly an injury to the foot.
When the body is injured or in pain, it makes adjustments to how the body’s weight is supported, which can often cause additional injuries – including injuries that cause foot arch pain. Let’s look at some of the causes of foot arch pain and the treatment options that are available to alleviate the condition.
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What’s Causing My Foot Arch Pain?
Structural Defects that Cause Foot Arch Pain
Some people are born with defects in the structure of the foot that can lead to foot arch pain. If the arch pain in the foot is thought to be caused by a structural defect, often this can be corrected by using orthotic insoles, which can help rebalance the body, cushion supports the feet to relieve the pain in the arch of the foot, and prevent further damage from occurring. In very rare cases, surgery to the affected foot or feet is required.
Foot Arch Pain from Plantar Fasciitis
Sometimes the cause of arch pain in the foot is caused by a condition known as plantar fasciitis. This is often known referred to as flat feet and is caused by an over-stretching of the band of fibrous tissue along the bottom of the foot. Arch supporting insoles can help alleviate this situation. Pain in the arch of the foot is often worse when first getting up in the morning. This is because the plantar fascia is first stretched away from the heel upon getting out of bed, after contracting and tightening through the night.
Stretching exercises can help this condition. If left uncorrected, this constant strain on the longitudinal arch of the foot can cause a bone spur to occur, which can be extremely painful.
Foot Arch Pain from Injuries and Stress
Another common cause of arch pain in the foot can be from injuries and stress sustained from physical activity and sports. This can be made worse by wearing shoes that improperly support the feet during physical exercises, such as running. The feet take a lot of abuse, supporting the entire weight of the body, and when a person runs, the stress on the arch of the foot can be substantial, especially if the foot is not supported properly. If this is the case, exercise and activity should be reduced until the muscles and ligaments have a chance to heal, so that the inflammation doesn’t get worse. If neglected, this type of inflammation can lead to other problems, such as bursitis.
Treatment of Foot Arch Pain
Pain in the arch of the foot can most times be treated through massage, stretching, and the use of proper arch supports or other types of orthotics worn in the shoes. While one should refrain from any activities that might have caused the inflammation in the first place, gentle stretching exercises can be very helpful. These types of exercises can help to not only relieve the pain but can also strengthen the muscles in the feet to avoid future incidents of arch pain in the foot.
Anti-inflammatory medications, either prescribed by a doctor or over-the-counter medications such as Ibuprofen or naproxen sodium can also help relieve the inflammation and pain in the arch of the foot.
What Causes Pain in The Arch of The Foot, Last Update: 11/5/2017
