How Arch Pain Can Lead To Serious Foot Complications

Foot arch pain and overpronation can cause issues for people in every stage of life and can even distress an athlete's performance on the court, field, or track. Three causes of this type of pain may be surprising to some who aren't aware of them. Most of the causes are preventable, however some can be genetic. According to the Cleveland Clinic, 3 of the preventable causes for foot arch pain include poor selection of shoe style, improper fit, and deficient foot arch support. These ill-decided actions can all lead to painful foot disorders like bunions, hammertoes, and plantar fasciitis. The Mayo Clinic cites that 2 of the genetic foot conditions that can lead to overpronation and arch pain include low foot arches or arches that are excessively high. Here are some common foot procedures that remedy these disorders and how each of them can be helped.

Arch Pain Can Be the First Sign of Bunion Formation

Removal of a bunion, or a bunionectomy, is the process whereby the bump of bone just below the big toe is shaved down to obtain a more standard foot profile and width. In the most serious cases where the big toe has situated itself under the other toes, the surgeon cuts a triangle-shaped portion out of the bone in the big toe to reset it to its original state. One screw is used to hold the bone's new position. After about 6 months, the screw is taken out of the bone. Though this condition can be caused by pointed shoes, sometimes people are born with the tendency to form bunions. Surgeons confer that shoes with little space force the toes into an abnormal position can bring on bunions.

Serious Foot Issues Can Occur Without Proper foot arch support

Some of the genetic foot disorders include either low arches or excessively high arches. Both arch problems can affect anyone, including athletes. The result of a low arch can be arch pain and overpronation because this flattened part of the foot is not functioning as it should. When this part of the foot malfunctions, over-pronation occurs which can lead to a heel spur, a bony protrusion in the heel. Surgery is sometimes needed to remove the boneprotrusion and relieve the dicomfort. The specialist 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 alternative for treating both types of arch disorders so heel spurs can be prevented is by supplying the foot with appropriate foot arch support through arch lifting shoes.

Without Proper Shoes, Painful Hammertoes Can Occur

Pointed-toe shoes and shoes that are too tight can also cause hammertoes. This condition can affect walkers and runners that wear tight shoes during exercise as well. Hammertoes are, regrettably, difficult to fix without a corrective operation. First, a surgeon can try to tape the affected toe to try and coax it into a more normal shape. For this procedure to work, patients need to wear shoes with plenty of toe room. Hammertoes can occur again if the same type of shoes are worn again. If splinting the toe is unsuccessful, surgery is the only option. The malformed toe must have a section of the bone removed to reduce the curvature of the toe. The recovery period is crucial, as patients who refuse to stay off their feet as recommended will not restore properly. The prevention for this condition is to wear properly-fitting shoes.

No matter what lifestyle, genetic disposition, or age, foot disorders can happen to a fair number of people. Though foot procedures can surgically repair these disorders, most of the time they are avoidable by wearing appropriate footwear and appropriate foot arch support.