Pain in the arch - Why is it hurting, what can I do?

What is the arch?

The arch is located between the heel and the football. It is formed by the bones, ligaments, muscles, fascia and tendons of the foot. Its purpose is to support the weight of the body and help push the body forward while walking. To do this, the foot needs a high degree of stability and a lot of flexibility, which is provided by the arch.

There are three arches that help to form the entire arch.

1. The medial longitudinal arch extends from the front to the back along the inside of the foot, which is the most thought of when people think of the arch. Part of its work is to absorb most of the impact that occurs during impact and support the structure of the foot.

2. The lateral longitudinal arch operates in the same manner as the medial longitudinal arch, but it is located on the outer edge of the foot. For most of us, it is quite level, touching the floor along the entire length when standing. The people with high arches are the best to watch.

3. The lateral arch, also known as the humeral arch, differs from the first two, from the lateral to medial [medial] through the midfoot/anterior, and also helps provide support and flexibility.

General arch classification

There are three general types of arches, mainly based on the observation of the medial longitudinal arch [the main arch on the inside of the foot].

Normal arch

2. High arch [related to the spin]

3. Low arch [flat feet, related to excessive activity]

A low arch or flat foot, called pes planus, usually occurs when the arch or the step disappears. In a small percentage of people, whether they stand on it or not, it is still very low. People with low arches or flat feet are often excessive people. When there is too much internal rotation, the ankle turns inward and the sole of the foot collapses when standing. It can produce the appearance of a tap.

In individuals with high arches [called pes cavus], you can see large gaps between their feet and the medial [medial longitudinal] arch, sometimes even on the outside [small toe side]. This condition often causes the ankles to roll slightly outward and make them bow-legged. Both of these conditions can change the mechanical method of walking and can cause bowel symptoms of pain.

How do I know what type of arch I have?

To estimate your bow type, stand up while standing. If there is a clear space between the ground and the arch, you may have a high arch even on the outside [small toe side]. If you have no defined medial [medial] arch, you are most like a flat foot.

You can test it with a wet foot on a dry surface. If your footprint only shows thin strips on the outside of the foot connecting the heel and football area, your arch is high. If the connecting strip is about half the width of the foot, you are likely to have a normal or medium arch. If most or all of the sole is in contact with the floor between the heel and the football area, your arch or flat foot is lower.

What are the problems with the position of the arch?

The foot is the main part of our body and absorbs power when we hit the ground. Therefore, the arch has a lot of work to do and it is easy to get hurt. Direct force can cause injury, or when the ligaments or muscles of the foot are overstretched. Excessive use can also cause a lot of irritation and pain. Poor biomechanical alignment not only causes pain in the arch, but also causes pain in the feet, ankles, knees, buttocks and other parts of the lower back. Arthritis of the joints in this area can also occur if your arch is not properly aligned.

Damage that causes inflammation of the plantar fascia is also a common cause of pain. The plantar fascia is a thick fibrous tissue band that extends from the heel to the toe and acts as a support platform to form one of the main components of the arch. Excessive internal rotation or supination, usually due to a flat or high arch, may result in micro-tearing and tension of the plantar fascia attached to the heel. When this happens, the point at which the heel is inserted becomes inflamed and pain in the plantar fasciitis occurs.

Foot arch pain: how to treat?

If you have pain, seeing a doctor may determine the best treatment. Usually for the arch of the foot, a foot orthosis or arch support will be specified. The foot orthosis can distract your weight as you walk and adjust the poor biomechanical alignment that causes your pain. For a flat foot, your arch support will have a longitudinal arcuate support and can have a built-in angle to tilt your foot to a better position. For high arches, your orthopedic insole will cushion the heel and help absorb some vibration.

Other treatments include stretching exercises, heel cup or heel brackets, plantar fasciitis night splints and suitable footwear.

If you know that your arch is high or low but there is no pain, you may never have problems... or you may have problems for a long time. Make sure you don't overlook even slight arch symptoms. Over-the-counter arch support [off-the-shelf arch supports] may control symptoms before symptoms become a bigger problem, or they may be able to help prevent arch problems before they first appear.

If you are crossing the arch support to treat your arch pain, make sure they are stable enough to actually support the arch. Many products on the market today add some buffering, but little support.

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