Posted by : Moraliss Monday, July 28, 2014

By Rosella Campbell


A surprising number of people experience chronic foot problems. Swelling and pain makes it difficult to walk or run. A large percentage of people suffering from such problems are simply wearing the wrong type of shoes, with high heels being the number one culprit. Another common problem seen by podiatrists is fallen arches. This means that the patient does not have an instep. Insoles for flat feet can help to ease the discomfort experienced by these patients.

The symptoms of fallen arches differs from one person to the next but most sufferers experience foot pain and swollen ankles when they have to stand for a long time. Standing can also cause severe pain in the lower back. Patients are advised to avoid high impact exercises such as jogging because it will increase the symptoms. Sufferers find it very difficult to stand on their toes.

There is nothing that can be done to treat this condition. At best podiatrist can help patients to avoid circumstances where the fallen arches will cause pain or discomfort. Most sufferers find relief from wearing special soles inside their shoes. These inserts support the arches. They are freely available over the counter but in special cases they can even be custom made.

The fact that the condition cannot be cured does not mean that there is nothing sufferers can do to lessen the adverse effects of the symptoms. Podiatrists advise that patients should try and walk barefoot whenever they can. It is also recommended to run on the toes and to perform stretch exercises such as stretching the toes as wide as possible. All these exercises help to strengthen the ligaments and tendons in the foot.

There have been rare cases where surgery has been tried but even highly experienced surgeons will only attempt it as a last resort. Reputable podiatrists shun this procedure and say that it is both too risky and dangerous. After making an incision on the side of the foot a plastic insert is put in the bones of the ankle. However, if this fails the patient will experience lifelong pain and discomfort.

Arches can drop for a variety of reasons. All babies are born without arches, which develop later on, but in some cases they simply do not develop at all. Older people often develop dropped arches if the tendons in the ankle become weak. If the tendons become inflamed due to a physical foot or ankle injury the arches can also drop. Many obese people develop this condition.

It is interesting to note that the inserts worn by people with dropped arches can also help those with healthy arches to prevent them from dropping. Obese people should seriously consider losing weight, as obesity is one of the main causes of this complaint. Another major cause is the constant wearing of high heels. In fact, podiatrists agree that high heels are the direct cause of most foot problems experienced by women.

Inserts that support the arches is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways in which to relieve the pain and discomfort common to those with dropped arches. They should even be worn by those with healthy foot arches as a preventive measure. Exercise also helps and it is vital to wear shoes that fit properly.




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