Your arches are under considerable stress and pressure from your daily activities and they can become irritated, swollen, and even torn from overuse, which can cause plantar fasciitis. Wearing the right shoes with proper arch support is essential to avoiding arch pain. Properly treated arch problems can also alleviate spinal misalignment that contributes to knee, hip, and back issues as well.

5 causes of arch pain include the following:

• Plantar fasciitis—is an inflammation of the large band of fibrous tissue that supports the arch
• Overpronation—This is a tendency of your feet to roll inward at the ankles causing arch pain and other problems
• Stress from overuse—Being on your feet all day often causes arch and other foot pain
• Metatarsalgia—This condition can cause pain to radiate to the arch
• Arthritis—Joints in the middle of the foot that are affected by arthritic conditions can also cause pain in the arches.

Treatment for arch pain includes the following:

• Physical therapy—Exercises to stretch the calf muscles and arch will help relieve pain and increase strength and flexibility.
• Properly fitted shoes and orthotic inserts—Have a computerized gait analysis performed at your podiatrist’s office to determine your foot type and to see if you have pronation problems. Have your feet properly measured and wear shoes that are supportive and comfortable. Custom orthotic inserts are very effective at removing much of the stress on the arch and can be used to treat many other foot and ankle problems.

It is best to seek the assistance of your podiatrist when you first notice arch pain to receive the proper diagnosis and treatment and to prevent the condition from worsening. At Your Next Step, our team of board-certified podiatrists has access to advanced technologies, along with years of experience, to help diagnose and treat a variety of foot and ankle problems, including sports injuries, joint pain, toe deformities, nail fungus, chronic tendon pain, and skin problems. Dr. Eric Ricefield, Dr. Mark Yagodich and Dr. Aliza V. Eisen provide high-quality foot and ankle care to patients in the greater Philadelphia area at our offices conveniently located in Ardmore, Paoli, Woodlyn, and Downingtown. Please contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment.