How to treat and prevent Arch Pain

Many of us will experience arch pain at some point in our lives. Perhaps you have flat feet or your feet roll inward as you walk (also known as over-pronation.) Maybe you participate in sports and strained the arch ligaments while jumping or sprinting. Regardless of the cause, arch pain hurts and without treatment, it can continue to interfere with your daily activities.

Each foot has two arches. One runs length wise down your foot while the other runs from side to side. The arches, or ligaments, help keep your foot bones in place. Foot pain can occur in this area gradually or it can be sudden if you stretch or tear the arch during activities like running, walking or jumping.

You have arch pains. How do you treat it?

• Stop any activity as soon as possible once you feel a pain in your foot. Continuing on through the arch pain can cause it to get worse.
• Use ice packs on the foot pain every three or four hours. Leave the ice packs on for twenty to thirty minutes each time.
• Take an anti-inflammatory medication. Your doctor may prescribe one or you can use over-the-counter products.
• Add extra support by using inserts designed for arch support. There are many varieties available and you can find arch supports for all types of shoes and arch problems.

How quickly your arch pains subsides depends on how long you've had the pain and the severity of the injury. Return to your normal activities when you feel no foot pain when you walk, have strength back in the foot, and have a full range of motion.

To prevent arch pains in the future, find shoes that fit well and provide good arch support for your foot. You can also buy inserts or orthotics to provide support for your feet. You may only inserts for some activities or you may want to wear them all the time. Getting proper support is the key to keeping arch pains away.

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