Ouch, you have pain in the arch of your foot. It’s unpleasant to walk, and even standing for a prolonged period of time can be uncomfortable.

Foot pain is not uncommon.

And pain can be felt in a variety of places:

• Heel
• Ball of the foot
• Toe
• Outer edges of the foot
• Arch

Pain that is debilitating might require you to visit a podiatrist, but a lot of pains can be corrected at-home. Today we’re going to look at foot arch pain, why it happens and how to best treat it even if it happens only during long travels.

Plantar Fasciitis is the Most Common Cause of Arch Pain

But what exactly is it and what is the main cause of Plantar Fasciitis? Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of pain in a foot’s arch. When you’re suffering from this condition, it can impact your heel or arch of the foot. Oftentimes, both the heel and arch are impacted making it uncomfortable to walk around or stand.

A lot of treatments are available, but let’s first discuss what is causing your plantar fasciitis.

The condition impacts millions of people in the US each year, and it is caused by inflammation of the thick band of tissue in the foot. The tissue runs from the heel, which is why it causes heel pain, to the person’s toes.

If you’re suffering from this condition, it will often cause you to experience a stabbing pain during your first steps in the morning.

Symptoms will often worsen as the day goes on, and since the tissue is involved in supporting the foot’s arch, it will lead to arch pain. An easy way to alleviate the pain from your arch is with compression socks. I’ve been using Mindinsole Compression socks, but there are many other types out there, it all depends on your needs. Tension and stress in this bowstring, which is meant to absorb shock, will cause the area to become irritated and inflamed.

Treatment for plantar fasciitis can vary, and the treatment required depends on the severity of the issue.

Some people will have mild discomfort while others will have severe pain. Medication and surgery may be needed in more serious cases. Otherwise, a person may be able to wear orthotics to correct plantar fasciitis.

Other forms of therapy that may be able to help correct plantar fasciitis include:

• Physical
• Night splints
• Orthotics
• Stretching

Injections or other forms of therapy may be able to help. There are lifestyle and home remedies that can be followed that may also help. Maintaining a healthy weight is key, as it is with almost all foot-related pain, and the shoes you wear must be supportive.

Apply ice to the area to alleviate some of the inflammation, and stretch the arches of the foot, the calf and the Achilles tendon to better help with the pain and discomfort.

Fallen Arches or Flat Feet Are Also Very Common

Your foot’s arch is vital to your ability to walk. Your entire gait will change when you have flat feet or an arch that is too high or low. Some people are born with undeveloped arches, so it’s a condition that cannot be prevented in some individuals.

For others, the issue of fallen arches occurs when the person has been standing or walking for prolonged periods of time.

When the person has been on their feet for a long time, the arches of their feet may actually flatten out. Feet that flatten out will cause pain and discomfort, but there are ways to help correct flat feet:

• Shoe inserts, especially those designed specifically for flat feet, can help a person maintain the arch in their foot. This will be a low-cost, easy means of correcting fallen arches and works for many people that suffer from fallen arches.
• Shoe adjustments may also help. A shoe that is not supportive or lacks proper arch support may need to be merely replaced.
• Physical therapy may help to reduce some of the causes of flat feet, allowing you to stop standing or walking in a certain way that may cause your flat feet to worsen.
• Rest and icing the area can often help.
• Walking with a mobility aid, such as a cane may be required in the most severe of cases.

Fallen arches are often easy to manage and won’t require drastic changes to correct. In the most severe of cases, surgery may be required, but this is only when fallen arches have led to a decline in a person’s quality of life.

For most people, inserts, rest or a change in shoes will be able to stop the pain caused by fallen arches.

A few of the reasons that the arch of your foot may be aggravated, include:

• Aging
• Overuse
• Stress on the foot
• Weight gain

Other Conditions That May Be Causing Arch Pain

Pain in the arch of your foot can be caused by a variety of other issues, too. The following, while less common, may be causing your arch pain:

• Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction. Also known as PTTD, the condition occurs when the tendon has been injured or becomes inflamed. The tendon connects to the back of the calf and to the inner foot. A custom shoe insert or a brace may be needed, and if this doesn’t work, physical therapy or surgery may be required.
• Overpronation. Overpronation is a condition where the outer edge of your heel hits the ground first. This is not supposed to happen, so excess stress is put on the foot. The arch is impacted because the foot will roll inwards towards the arch causing the arch to flatten over time. Tendon, ligament and even muscle damage can occur when overpronation is allowed to persist for an extended period of time. Stability shoes are recommended for this condition and will allow you to walk properly on your foot.
• Cavus foot. The final condition is when the arch of the foot is very high. Neurological conditions or abnormalities may be the cause of cavus foot, and pain occurs most often when the person is standing or walking. Special foot orthotics may be able to help with this condition, relieving pain and making it more comfortable to walk.

Foot arch pain is often able to be treated with rest, ice and moderate changes, such as an insert. If the pain persists, it’s worth consulting with a doctor to see what’s recommended to correct your arch pain.

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