Arch Pain
Pain through the arch of the foot is incredibly common, especially in active people or those who spend extended periods of time on their feet. .
Often the pain in the arch will feel sharp, sometimes like a “twinge”, whilst other times it can feel like a dull ache that persists throughout the day. The pain can come on suddenly and be infrequent or it can be consistent and nagging in the background throughout the day/night.
What is the arch?
The arch of the foot is a triangular or tripod shape part of the foot that forms between the heel of the foot and underneath the base of the big toe and base of the 5th toe.
The arch of the foot is a crucial and incredibly complex part of the foot that allows us to stand, walk, run, jump, hop and sidestep efficiently and effectively. It helps us absorb shock from the ground and as we push off the ground it releases this energy - like a big spring!
The arch helps us stand and adapt to uneven ground and maintains our balance when we are on one leg.
Why does my arch hurt?
There are lots of structures in the arch of the foot, like the plantar fascia, the spring ligament, the metatarsals and tarsal bones, the intrinsic muscles and the long tendons of the ankle. When the structures in the arch are overworked, stretched or strain you can experience an injury that results in pain in the arch.
The most common parts of the foot arch to become injured and painful are the plantar fascia and the tibialis posterior tendon.
Plantar Fasciitis and Foot Arch Pain
If your plantar fascia is injured (also known as plantar fasciitis or plantar fasciosis), you will often be able to feel a stringy band running up the inside of the foot. This is a sign that the plantar fascia is tight and overused. This condition often occurs in people with high foot arches or flat feet, but may also be the result of poor footwear or particular activities. This creates foot arch pain underneath the foot arch.
Tibialis Posterior Tendon Dysfunction / Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction
The tibialis posterior (posterior tibial) muscle is a long muscle that starts deep at the back of our calves, it runs down the inside of the ankle and has a long tendon that attaches at one of the bones in our arch. Its primary job is to hold up the arch and stop it from flattening out too much or too quickly with each step. If the tibialis posterior muscle and tendon is overworked or not strong enough it can cause small tears in the tendon.
Because we use this muscle so much when we are standing, walking and running, the muscle never has a chance to rest, this can result in a cycle of non-healing and chronic pain.
Any type of foot arch pain should be treated quickly as it can develop into a more serious injury such as a torn tendon or fascia, and can lead to referred pain in other parts of the foot, leg, hip or back.
Our highly qualified and award-winning podiatrists are experts in biomechanics and its our commitment to provide the highest quality of care to each individual. We are dedicated to providing entirely tailor-made diagnosis and treatment services that get results fast. If you are suffering from ball of foot pain, there is no need to live with it for any longer. Book a consultation with our Podiatrists to discuss your condition and we will get you back pain-free, doing the things you love as quickly as possible.