Support matters—just look at the leaning tower of Pisa. This Italian tower started to lean and actually fall to one side early in its construction because the soil underneath shifted and couldn’t support its weight. You can lose support in your feet that can cause your own slow collapse: fallen arches. When an important tendon can’t support your midfoot, your arch does its own uncomfortable leaning tower impression.
Arches “fall” for a number of reasons, but the most common is related to posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, or PTTD. Your posterior tibial tendon runs from your calf behind the bony bump on the inside of your ankle and underneath your arch. It acts like a sling, holding up and supporting your arch. When the tendon is injured or overworked, however, it allows your midfoot to slowly collapse down and inward.
This can be quite uncomfortable for you, since your collapsing arch won’t be able to absorb shock or pressure as well. But you don’t have to stuffer through it. You can take steps to alleviate that fallen arch pain. Here are a few tips to help you:
- Rest – Avoid activities that are painful for you. Your tendon needs time to heal, and activities can make it worse, so take a break and stick to low-impact options and minimize time you spend standing and walking.
- Ice your ankle – If you’re feeling pain around the inside of your ankle, it may be from swelling and irritation in your posterior tibial tendon. Apply ice to alleviate this.
- Get additional support – You might need orthotics or at least arch supports to help your foot better absorb pressure and shock to alleviate your discomfort.
- Change your shoes – Some shoes can make fallen arches feel worse. Avoid super-flat insoles and stick to style that support your midfoot.
- Try exercises – Sometimes physical therapy can help improve strength and range of motion in an injured tendon, reducing pain and improving your arch issues.
Ultimately the way to address fallen arches is to get to the root of the problem and deal with that. Let our team at Absolute Foot Care Specialists help you manage your flatfoot pain from PTTD and keep it from getting worse. Simply contact us for an appointment so we can both treat your discomfort and discover why it’s a problem in the first place. You can reach our Las Vegas offices through our website or by calling (702) 839-2010.
