Arch & Foot Pain
The feet are one of the most sensitive areas in the body. Reflexologists say there are over 7,000 nerves in each foot. Feet are also the starting point for balancing the body whether standing in place or in continuous motion. When your body weight or posture changes due to obesity or exercise, it isn't uncommon to suffer from arch and foot pain.
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Plantar Fasciitis
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Plantar fasciitis occurs in the plantar fascia, a tissue band that begins from the bottom of the heel to the bottom of the forefoot, stopping at the toes. When the band becomes overstretched consistently, acute pain can occur inside the foot where the heel and arch meet. Plantar fasciitis is often caused by sudden increase in physical activity, unusually high arches or excessive weight on the foot from obesity or pregnancy.
Sesamoiditis
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Sesamoiditis is pain in the ball of the foot, mostly on the inner side. It's common in young athletes and affects the sesamoid bones. The sesamoid bones are inside the tendons connected to the big toe. Whenever you push off on the toe, the sesamoids act as a pulley for the toe, giving it more leverage to bear the weight. Constant push-off irritates and sometimes breaks the sesamoids, causing inflammation around the tendon as well.
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Morton's Neuroma
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Morton's neuroma is a condition describing an enlarged nerve between the third and fourth toes. The nerve rests below those toes and forms if parts of the lateral and medial plantar nerves combine. The enlarged nerve has a strong ligament resting on top of it. Whenever the foot touches the ground, it forces the nerve upward toward the ligament, which is simultaneously pushing down. This compression causes foot pain.
Flat Feet
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Flat feet can occur when weight on the feet causes the arches to fall. As such, flat feet often cause people to walk with feet leaning inward, also known as over-pronation, which contributes to plantar fasciitis. Although flat feet in general do not cause pain, some people with flat feet are more subject to Morton's neuroma and inflammation within the feet's soles. Bunions and calluses could also form because of flat feet if the big toe continuously bears weight and turns inward.
Treatment
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Arch and foot pain can be treated several different ways, depending on the severity of the condition. Plantar fasciitis pain can be treated with physical therapy and ice/heat treatment to reduce inflammation. Bunions are often removed via surgery, which involves removing the enlarged bone and repositioning or realigning the toe bones. Sometimes simple rest or a change in shoes is the best treatment, as with sesamoiditis.
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References
- Photo Credit legs and feet image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.com
