Pain in Arch of Foot: Causes, Stretches, Treatment
The arch of the foot refers to the area between the ball and the heel of the foot. People that have an active lifestyle that involves a lot of movements commonly suffer from pain in this region. This is the reason athletes suffer from pain in these regions very commonly. The arch in the foot is visible from the outside. It is made of three arches internally that are all separately built out of bones, tendons, and ligaments. These arches together form the shape of a triangle that helps create the arch visible from the outside.
Pain in that region of the foot can be caused mainly by two reasons.
Structural problems or internal abnormalities
External Injuries causing internal damage
These are the basic reasons why people might have pain in the arch of their feet. The pain can also come from other factors such as ageing, physical stress, weight gains, overuse, neurological conditions. All these factors lead to different types of injuries that have their own treatment process and preventive measures. Read along to learn about the different types of injuries the arch in your foot can be affected by and how you can treat and prevent them.
Different Types Of Causes For Pain In The Foot Arch
1. Overpronation
Description: Overpronation is a condition that affects people that walk a certain way. People who walk with the back of their heel touching the ground and rolling all the way for taking a step generally suffer from problems such as overpronation. This is caused due to the extra pressure that the arch of the foot faces causing it to become straighter.
Effects: This condition can cause problems such as hammertoe and calluses in the long term. It can also lead to problems such as pain and damage in ligaments, muscles, and tendons. It can also lead to pain in different parts of your body, such as hips, knees, and back.
Stretches: If you are suffering from overpronation, you can do some light stretching to help you with your condition. You need to stand with your legs apart, and while keeping your toes on the ground, you have to push your weight towards the outer parts of your feet, raising the arch of your feet. After holding yourself in that position for a few seconds, come down slowly, and you can repeat these exercises a few times.
Treatment: Overpronation is a problem that can lead to problems in the affected person’s ability to support themselves. This is why doctors often prescribe external walking support for the patient so they can get extra support while walking. They are also prescribed to use stability shoes to help them walk properly. Medically prescribed arch supports are also provided to help patients get the extra support they need for walking.
2. Cavus Foot
Description: Cavus foot is a condition that causes a structural abnormality in a person’s foot. This abnormality causes a high arch in the foot that can lead to pain in your foot while doing basic activities such as walking or standing. This condition is caused by various factors such as genetics, stroke, Charcot Marie tooth disease, and cerebral palsy.
Effects: Cavus foot causes pain in the foot of the patient from walking or standing. It also causes a loss of stability for the patient, which makes standing or walking very hard. The loss of stability also makes it very easy to hurt after parts of your leg while standing or walking, such as your ankles. Cavus foot can also lead to other issues such as claw toes.
Stretches: There are a number of stretches that you can do to help yourself if you are suffering from cavus foot. Stretches such as towel stretch and bent knee wall stretch can help you ease your condition. Towel stretches require you to put a towel around the ball of your feet; then, you have to flex your foot while gently tugging the towel and stretching your toes.
Treatment: Cavus foot is a condition that does not have any medicinal treatment process. Patients are required to get surgical treatment for their condition. The surgeries differ, however, based on the severity and the condition of the person. The types of surgeries include bone shifting, tendon transfer, and soft tissue release.
Having stiff pain in the arch of your foot is not a very common condition. This is why if you are regularly suffering from it, you should not take it lightly, and you must get medical help to check out what problems you are facing. There are many different conditions that can be the cause of your pain in the arch of your foot. Only with a proper medical diagnosis you can understand the cause of your pain and get the appropriate treatment necessary to help you heal from the problem.