Arch pain and foot overpronation can cause issues for people in every stage of life and can even affect an athlete’s performance on the court, field, or track. For many people who experience pain like this, they may not be aware of the 3 common triggers. Most of the causes are avoidable, while several can be inherited. According to the Cleveland Clinic, three of the avoidable causes for arch pain include poor selection of shoe style, improper fit, and lack of arch support. These bad choices can all bring on painful foot disorders like bunions, hammertoes, and plantar fasciitis. The Mayo Clinic reports that 2 of the inherited foot problems that can bring on foot overpronation and foot arch pain include fallen arches or arches that are markedly high. Below we explain some foot procedures that remedy these disorders and how each of them can be helped.
Overview of Heel Spur Relief Procedures
Some of the inherited foot disorders include either fallen arches or excessively high arches. Both types of arch disorders can affect the average person as well as an active athlete. The result of a fallen arch can be foot arch pain and foot overpronation because this flattened part of the foot is not performing as it should. When this foot area fails to support the body’s weight, foot overpronation occurs which can bring on a heel spur, a bony protuberance in the heel. Surgery is sometimes required to remove the boneprotrusion and relieve the dicomfort. The surgeon will use a bone saw to cut away the superfluous bone which will eliminate the irritation, tearing, and swelling it had been causing. The best solution for treating both types of arch problems so heel spurs can be prevented is by giving the foot with normal arch support through athletic insoles.
Arch Pain Can Be the First Sign of Bunion Formation
Having a bunion removed, or a bunionectomy, is the process through which the bump of bone just below the big toe is severed to obtain a more standard foot form and width. In the most serious cases where the big toe has situated itself under the other toes, the foot doctor cuts a triangle-shaped block out of the bone in the big toe to reset it to its proper angle. A single metal osteo screw is turned inside the bone to hold the new position in place. After about 6 to 7 months, the screw is usually removed. Though this condition can happen because of pointed shoes, sometimes people are born with the tendency to form bunions. Podiatrists agree that shoes with little space force the toes into an abnormal position can cause bunions.
Overview of Hammertoe Treatment and Prevention
Shoes that crowd the foot, including pointed-toe shoes, can result in development of hammertoes. This condition can affect active people that wear snug shoes during activity as well. Hammertoes are, regrettably, difficult to treat without surgical intervention. First, a foot doctor can try to splint the affected toe to try and coax it into a more natural placement. For this procedure to work, patients need to wear shoes with plenty of toe room. Hammertoes can recur if improper shoes are worn again. If splinting the toe is unsuccessful, surgery is the lone alternative. The malformed toe must have a portion of the bone taken out to lessen the curvature of the toe. The recovery period is vital, as patients who do not remain off the affected foot as recommended will not heal correctly. The way to avoid this condition is to wear roomy shoes.
No matter what lifestyle, genetic disposition, or age, foot conditions can happen to a wide range of persons. Though foot procedures can surgically alleviate these conditions, most of the time they are preventable through proper shoes and appropriate arch support.