Foot / Arch Pain

Whether you run, dance, play tennis, or walk, the repeated forward, up and down, and sideways motions common in exercise and sports put extra stress on your feet. Worn-out shoes or overused muscles can also contribute to an injury. Your foot can withstand motion and pressure with the help of good shoes. As your foot bears weight, your arch flattens, stretching the plantar fascia. Repeated flattening can inflame your plantar fascia or tendons, break down joints, or weaken muscles. Repeated up and down pounding puts a lot of pressure on your foot and that pressure is concentrated on the ball of your foot, rather than spread out over the entire foot. Your foot’s tendons and muscles aren’t able to absorb the extra stress coming up through your bones, so fractures or tendon injuries in your foot, ankle, and calf can occur more easily. When you make sudden, sideways movements, your heel is thrown off balance. Because your joints are forced beyond their normal range of motion, ligaments and joints can be injured.