Flat Foot Correction | Arch Pain Having flat feet does not always result in pain. However, if you have flat feet and are suffering from pain, it is important to be evaluated by a podiatrist.
The Richardson, TX Department of Parks and Recreation has over 40 miles of walkways and trails mapped out, which means you have ample opportunity to head out to the great outdoors and stay active to improve your physical fitness. You may not be aware of this, but when you go walking or running on any of those 40 miles, your feet undergo a biomechanical process called pronation. This natural rolling motion helps provide shock absorption, but overpronation (excessive rolling) can cause issues for you.
Pronation starts with the heel strike and continues as weight is transferred to forefoot. As with most things in life, you might have a moderate amount, but there can also be too much or too little as well. Not enough pronation is referred to as supination and often accompanies high arches. Overpronation, on the other hand, frequently accompanies flat feet.
We’ve recently discussed how to identify your specific arch type (whether normal, high, or low) and if you have flat feet it is likely that you have a tendency to overpronate when you run or walk. Signs that indicate this particular gait abnormality include discomfort in your sole and foot arch, pain in various parts of your legs (ankles, shins, knees, and hips), and excessive wear on the inner sides of your shoes.
This motion can lead to several issues—shin splints, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, and heel spurs among others—but there are ways of managing overpronation. One of the most effective is to come into our office for a gait analysis and have our staff determine if you would benefit from a pair of custom orthotics. These medical devices can provide the support that your fallen arches need and correct faulty biomechanical processes.
When you experience pain and discomfort as a result of overpronation problems, it is time to reach out to the professionals at Richardson Podiatry Associates. You can call our Richardson, TX office at (972)-690-5374 or use our online form to request an appointment today. Also, don’t forget to connect with us on social media and use Facebook, Twitter, or Google+ to let us know how we’re doing.