Athletes Beware: Overpronation and Arch Pain Cannot Be Ignored

By: Fred Salomon Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Arch pain and over-pronation can cause problems for people in every stage of life and can even affect an athlete's performance in every way. Three causes of this type of pain may be surprising to some who aren't aware of them. Most of the causes are preventable, while several can be hereditary. According to the Cleveland Clinic, 3 of the preventable causes for arch pain include high heel shoes, tightly-fitting footwear, and deficient foot arch support. These ill-decided actions can all cause painful foot conditions like bunions, hammertoes, and plantar fasciitis. The Mayo Clinic has found that 2 of the inherited foot problems that can cause over-pronation and foot arch pain include low foot arches or arches that are markedly high. Here are some common foot procedures that fix these conditions and how each of them can be helped.

Foot arch support Can Prevent a Host of Serious Foot Problems

Some of the hereditary foot conditions include either fallen arches or excessively high arches. Arch malformations such as these affect normal and active people alike. The result of a fallen arch can be foot arch pain and over-pronation because this flattened part of the foot is not functioning as it should. When this foot area fails to support the body's weight, over-pronation occurs which can cause a heelspur, a bony protuberance in the heel. Surgery is sometimes needed to remove the bonespur and relieve the pain. The specialist will use a bone saw to cut away the bony protrusion to relieve the discomfort and ripped muscle tissue it had been causing. The best solution for treating both types of arch disorders so heel spurs can be prevented is by providing the foot with normal foot arch support through orthotics.

When Bunion Removal Procedures are Necessary

Bunion removal, or a bunionectomy, is the process whereby the bump of bone just below the big toe is filed away to obtain a more norma foot profile and width. In the most serious cases where the big toe has begun to turn under the other toes, the foot doctor cuts a triangle-shaped portion out of the bone in the big toe to reset it to its proper angle. A single metal osteo screw is turned inside the bone to hold the new position in place. After about 6 to 7 months, the screw is taken out of the bone. Despite the fact that this condition can happen because of pointed shoes, some bunion occurrences are hereditary. Foot specialists warn that shoes with little space force the toes into an abnormal position can cause bunions.

What Causes Hammertoes and How to Treat Them

Shoes that crowd the foot, including pointed-toe shoes, can result in development of hammertoes. This condition can affect active people that wear ill-fitting shoes during exercise as well. Hammertoes are, sadly, difficult to treat without surgery. First, a foot doctor can try to tape the affected toe to try to move it into a more appropriate position. In order for this method to work, wider shoes must be worn form that point on. Hammertoes can occur again if improper shoes are worn again. If splinting the toe is unsuccessful, surgery is the lone alternative. The malformed toe must have a portion of the bone taken out to lessen its bend. The recovery period is crucial, as patients who refuse to stay off their feet as prescribed will not heal appropriately. The way to avoid this condition is to wear roomy shoes.

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

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About The Author: Shoe inserts and insoles are products designed for foot pain relief. At Footminders, these orthotic insoles are made as a result of extensive research for plantar fasciitis treatment and other related conditions.