ARCH PAIN DISCUSSED BY TORONTO CHIROPODIST, MARZ HARDY, D.Ch., B.Sc., PODIATRIC MEDICINE
posted: Dec. 17, 2012.
THE TERM ARCH PAIN (OFTEN REFERRED TO AS ARCH STRAIN) REFERS TO AN INFLAMATION AND/OR BURNING SENSATION AT THE ARCH OF THE FOOT. THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT FACTORS THAT CAN CAUSE ARCH PAIN. A STRUCTURAL IMBALANCE OR AN INJURY OF THE FOOT OFTEN CAN BE THE DIRECT CAUSE. HOWEVER, THE MOST FREQUENT CAUSE IS A COMMON CONDITION CALLED PLANTAR FASCIITIS. EXCESSIVE STRETCHING OF THIS BROAD BAND OF FASCIA WHICH RINS THE LENGTH OF THE FOOT, USUALLY DUE TO OVERPRONATION (FLAT FEET), CAUSES PLANTAR FASCIITIS THE INFLAMMATION CAUSED BY THE PLANTAR FASCIA BEING STRETCHED AWAY FROM THE HEEL OFTEN LEADS TO PAIN IN THE ARCH AND HEEL AREAS. THE PAIN IS OFTEN EXTREME IN THE MORNING WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL FIRST GETS OUT OF BED OR AFTER A PROLONGED PERIOD OF REST. IF THE CONDITION IS LEFT UNTREATEDE AND STRAIN ON THE LONGITUDINAL ARCH CONTINUES, A BONY PROTUSION MAY DEVELOP, KNOWN AS A HEEL SPUR. IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE CONDITION TREATED PROMPTLY BEFORE IT WORSENS BECAUSE WHEN IT BECOMES CHRONIC IT CAN TAKE MANY MONTHS TO HEEL.
THIS CONDITION CAN BE EASILY TREATED. AT OUR FOOT CLINIC WE GENERALLY PRESCRIBE CUSTOM MADE ORTHOTICS TO CORRECT THE BIOMECHANICS. PHYSIOTHERAPY, SHOCKWAVE AND ACTIVE RELEASE TECHNIQUE ARE PERFORMED IN THE OFFICE. THE PATIENT IS INSTRUCTED IN PROPER HOME CARE CONSISTING OF STRETCHES, EXERCISES, REST, ICE, ELEVATION, ETC.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY DR. HARDY AND MARZ HARDY, D.Ch., B.Sc., PODIATRIC MEDICINE, TORONTO CHIROPODIST AND TORONTO FOOT SPECIALIST PRACTICING PODIATRIC MEDICINE AND THE TEAM FROM ACADEMY FOOT AND ORTHOTIC CLINICS.