A truly amazing part of the structure of your foot is the arch, which is actually composed of three components including two longitudinal and one transverse. Additionally, your arch relies on a multitude of tendons, muscles, and other tissues for proper functioning, so there are many ways that injury, deformity, or disease can cause arch and heel pain.

People who have improperly treated high or low arches are most susceptible to developing arch problems.

Some common causes of arch pain include the following:

• Foot or ankle fractures—Stress or hairline fractures are very thin cracks that can occur in bones that help support the arch. Arch problems due to a stress fracture can be hard to diagnose without a physical exam and imaging studies such as MRI from your foot doctor.
• Plantar fasciitis— The plantar fascia is another name for the wide bands of tissue that span the bottom your foot and when this tissue becomes torn, irritated, and inflamed it can cause considerable pain that frequently radiates to the back of the heel.
• Improperly fitted footwear and poor support—Your arches depend on proper support to carry your full weight and handle the stress of walking and exercising. A computerized gait analysis at done at your foot doctor’s office will show if you have a tendency to over or under pronate. Arch supports and custom orthotic inserts can properly align your foot and also help with spinal alignment that affects the health of your knees, hips, and back.

If you are experiencing arch pain, we highly recommend that you consult with our board-certified podiatrists for the proper diagnosis and treatment. Call Syracuse Podiatry located in East Syracuse, New York. Dr. Ryan L. D’Amico, Dr. Kathleen Pyatak-Hugar and their staff will help you diagnose and treat your foot or ankle condition. Call 315-446-3668 or make an appointment online today.