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Arch Pain

What is arch pain?

There are two arches in your foot. The longitudinal arch runs the length of your foot, and the transverse arch runs across the width of your foot. The arches are made up of ligaments, which keep the bones of your feet in place. Arch pain can occur in one or both arches but occurs most commonly in the longitudinal arch.

How does it occur?

Arch pain most often occurs as a result of overuse in activities such as running, hiking, walking, and jumping. People who have flat feet, or people whose feet flatten and roll inward when walking (a problem called over-pronation) are more prone to arch pain. Arch pain usually comes on slowly. However, it can occur suddenly if the ligaments are stretched or torn during a forceful activity such as sprinting or jumping.

What are the symptoms?

The symptom is pain along the arch of the foot.

How is it diagnosed?

Your health care provider will examine your foot for pain and tenderness along the arch.

How is it treated?

You should place ice packs on your arch for 20 to 30 minutes every 3 to 4 hours for 2 or 3 days or until the pain goes away. Your health care provider may prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication.

Your arch needs extra support. Taping your arch or using an extra arch support in your shoe may give you the support you need. Your provider may prescribe custom-made arch supports called orthotics.

When can I return to my sport or activity?

The goal of rehabilitation is to return you to your sport or activity as soon as is safely possible. If you return too soon you may worsen your injury, which could lead to permanent damage. Everyone recovers from injury at a different rate. Return to your activity will be determined by how soon your foot recovers, not by how many days or weeks it has been since your injury occurred. In general, the longer you have symptoms before you start treatment, the longer it will take to get better.

You may safely return to your sport or activity when, starting from the top of the list and progressing to the end, each of the following is true:

  • You have full range of motion in the injured foot compared to the uninjured foot.
  • You have full strength of the injured foot compared to the uninjured foot.
  • You can jog straight ahead without pain or limping.
  • You can sprint straight ahead without pain or limping.
  • You can do 45-degree cuts, first at half-speed, then at full-speed.
  • You can do 20-yard figures-of-eight, first at half-speed, then at full-speed.
  • You can do 90-degree cuts, first at half-speed, then at full-speed.
  • You can do 10-yard figures-of-eight, first at half-speed, then at full-speed.
  • You can jump on both feet without pain and you can jump on the injured foot without pain.

How can I prevent arch pain?

Arch pain can be prevented by wearing shoes that fit properly and have proper arch support. Stretching your feet and arches before your activity will also help prevent this injury. You may need orthotics. Some people will need to wear orthotics all the time and others only during sporting activities.

Written by Pierre Rouzier, M.D., for McKesson Health Solutions LLC.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.
Copyright © 2003 McKesson Health Solutions LLC. All rights reserved.
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