If you’ve been suffering from pain in your arches, maybe someone has told you that your pain could be caused by “flat feet.” While that might be true, you should know that millions of people have flat feet and are not in any pain because of the condition. 

It’s fairly common for people to have low arches—or in some cases, no visible arch at all. The problem arises when a low arch (or lack of an arch) causes pain. In some patients, flat feet can be corrected fairly easily by wearing supportive shoes, fitted insoles, or orthotics, by wearing an ankle brace, by losing weight if the patient is obese, or simply by reducing physical activity for a while. Other patients will require surgery or immobility.

The major causes of flat foot pain include:

  • Age. As people grow older, their muscles, bones, and ligaments degenerate. Slackening of the tendons and ligaments that form the arches can cause pain and tenderness in the soles of the feet.
  • Injury.An injury to your foot or ankle can increase the likelihood that you will develop “fallen” arches. This is because the ligament that runs along the bottom of the foot may have been torn or twisted, or it may have become inflamed, and it may never fully heal.
  • Illness. Certain diseases, such as arthritis, can weaken the muscles and joints. This places extra pressure on the feet and over-stresses the arches.
  • Improper development. Children can experience pain in the arches as a result of improper bone growth. It’s important that you seek your Philadelphia podiatrist’s advice right away if your child is having problems walking or is complaining of pain along the tendons of his feet.

The doctors and staff at Healthmark Foot & Ankle Associates are committed to providing the best possible care for your feet and your overall health. Call us today for an appointment in Media at 610-565-3668 or in Phoenixville at 610-933-8644.

Get the facts on proper foot care. Click the link at the top of this page and we’ll send you a FREE copy of our book The Foot Is Not an Island: Recognizing Vitamin D Deficiency & How to Correct It.