Arch pain may be often caused by doing too much of a particular activity too fast. A sudden increase in activity may also cause arch pain during the middle or end of a season or a conditioning program. Factors that commonly contribute to this injury can be running on uneven surfaces or surfaces that are too hard or too soft, shoes that have poor force-absorption qualities, or going too hard or too long during repeated exercise bouts.
Ankle Sprains, Strains, Bruises and Fractures
The result of a single stress or a combination of stresses to the foot. A blunt-force injury such as someone stepping on your foot may result not only in a bruise (contusion) but also in damage to the primary and secondary structures of the foot.
Injury to the bones of the foot can be caused by a single blow or twist to the arch or also by repetitive trauma, which can result in a stress fracture. A sprain of the arch occurs when the ligaments which hold the bones together are overstretched and the fibers tear. The muscles of the foot may be strained by overstretching, overuse, overloading, bruising, or being cut by stepping on a sharp obj
ect. Arthritis of the arch joints may also occur if the foot is subjected to repetitive movements
Stress fractures, plantar fasciitis, and acute and chronic arthritis are most commonly the result of repetitive micro-trauma injuries.that stress the arch.
Arch Pain Symptoms
Pain and tenderness associated with plantar fascia strains are usually felt on the bottom of the foot and may manifest either as a specific or general area of tenderness. Tenderness and looseness of a foot ligaments at bone joint are indicators of a sprain.
- Fractures are indicated by acute tenderness that may be severe over the area of bone that is affected.
- Muscle injury may be present when pain is felt when the foot is fully extended, flexed, or turned in or out. Pain may also be felt when working the foot against resistance.
- Bruises are the result of a direct-force injury to the body. A bruise can occur to the foot by a variety of causes, such as having your foot stepped on or by stepping on a sharp hard object like a rock. Blows to the foot that result in pain, discoloration, swelling, and changes in how you walk may indicate a much more serious condition
Causes of Arch Pain
Proper evaluation and diagnosis of arch pain is critical for treatment. As a reference point, compare the injured side to the uninjured side. The type, causes, and severity of pain are also good indicators of the severity of the injury. Four grades are used to describe arch pain:
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- Pain during activity only
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- Pain before and after activity, and not affecting performance
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- Pain before, during, and after athletic activity affecting performance
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- Pain so severe that performance is impossible
If persistent pain persists for more than 10 days contact your physican or podiatrist for an examination.
Source: eMedicine Health / Arch Pain
