Research Article

Arch pain and overpronation can cause difficulties for people of all ages and can even influence an athlete’s performance in every way. For many people who experience pain like this, they may not be aware of the 3 common triggers. Most of the causes are preventable, while many can be genetic. Reported by the Cleveland Clinic, three of the preventable causes for arch pain include pointed-toe heels, shoes that are too snug, and deficient arch support. These ill-decided actions can all bring on painful foot problems like bunions, hammertoes, and plantar fasciitis. The Mayo Clinic cites that 2 of the genetic foot conditions that can bring on overpronation and foot arch pain include low foot arches or arches that are excessively high. Here we explain some foot procedures that treat these problems and how each of them can be helped.

Serious Foot Issues Can Occur Without Proper arch support

Some of the genetic foot problems include either flat arches or excessively high arches. Arch malformations such as these affect normal and active people alike. The result of a flat arch can be foot arch pain and overpronation because this injured part of the foot is not working as it should. When this foot area fails to support the body’s weight, overpronation occurs which can bring on a heel spur, a bony outgrowth in the heel. Surgery is sometimes necessary to remove the boneprotrusion and relieve the irritation. The podiatrist will use a bone saw to cut away the extra spur of bone to take away the inflammation and pain it had been causing. The best answer for treating both types of arch disorders so heel spurs can be prevented is by giving the foot with normal arch support through orthotics.

Arch Pain Can Be the First Sign of Bunion Formation

Having a bunion removed, or a bunionectomy, is the process through which the bone growth that appears to the side of the ball of the foot is severed to obtain a more norma foot profile and width. In the most serious cases where the big toe has begun to turn under the other toes, the podiatrist cuts a triangle-shaped portion out of the bone in the big toe to reset it to its original state. A single metal osteo screw is turned inside the bone to hold the new position in place. After about 6 months, the screw can be taken out. Despite the fact that this disorder can be brought on by pointed shoes, sometimes people are born with the tendency to form bunions. Podiatrists agree that pointed-toe shoes that force the toes into a crowded position can bring on bunions.

What Causes Hammertoes and How to Treat Them

Shoes that crowd the foot, including pointed-toe shoes, can result in development of hammertoes. This disorder can affect walkers and runners that wear snug shoes during training as well. Hammertoes are, regrettably, difficult to treat without a corrective operation. First, a podiatrist can try to straighten the affected toe to try to move it into a more normal shape. However, the patient must use shoes with a wider toe box in order for this method to succeed. Hammertoes can recur if improper shoes are worn again. If forcing the toe straight with a splint fails, surgery is the only option. The afflicted toe must have a portion of the bone removed to reduce its twist. The recovery period is crucial, as patients who do not rest and elevate their feet as prescribed will not restore appropriately. The prevention for this condition is to wear roomy shoes.

Regardless of types of activities, age, or inherited traits, foot disorders can affect a wide range of persons. Though foot procedures can surgically fix these problems, most of the time they are preventable through proper shoes and appropriate arch support.