Why Don't Comfortable Shoes Fix Arch Pain?
Are you one of the thousands of people who suffer from plantar fasciitis but have no idea what to do about it? If your shoes are the correct size and they fit comfortably, but your arch is always cramping in pain, you may want to take a closer look. Arch pain is caused by a strain on the plantar fascia: the thick, rubbery band of tissue that runs from the heel bone to the base of the toes. When a person wears shoes with poor or non existent arch support for any length of time, the plantar fascia will be overstretched and begin to strain. This can result in small tears forming at the site of stress, and the painful condition of this damage plus the inflammation caused, is called plantar fasciitis. This is why arch support insoles are necessary in nearly any type of shoe. Powerstep makes arch-supporting orthotics for all shoe types, Athletic, Dress, Casual, Work Boots, Hiking, Cleats, and many more.
While arch pain can be debilitating, the most common cause is plantar fasciitis, which means inflammation of the fascia. The first step is to rest and keep the arch muscles firm. All activities that could stress the arch, including running, walking, stair climbing and playing sports, should be avoided. A heating pad or hot water bottle may also be used periodically as a warm compress. There are plantar fasciitis shoe insoles available that can be worn under regular shoes to promote correct arch support and relieve pain. These insoles provide arch support by evenly distributing the weight of the foot from the heel, over the arch, to the ball of foot and toes, preventing the fascia from flattening and stretching painfully.
There are many exercises that you can do at home to help reduce arch pain, but before trying these, it is important to know your arch type and seek medical advice first. Once you know your individual case, a suitable exercise program can be worked out together with your doctor. PowerStep offers many orthotic insoles and devices to help relieve and prevent pain. Here are some devices for arch pain relief that may help:
The Ultraflexx Foot Rocker. This incredibally useful product holds the foot in the proper position to stretch and strengthen the muscles, ligaments and tendons of the foot and lower leg. Easily used during time spent sat down with your shoes on, it increases flexibility and strength to help prevent and treat injuries. The Foot Rocker provides a deep stretch to effectively relieve pain associated with plantar fasciitis or arch pain, and also relieves achilles tendonitis, ankle strains, tight calf muscles, shin splints and other common conditions.
Another arch pain relief is a night sock that cradles the foot upwards, keeping the plantar fascia gently extended while sleeping. These are especially useful for those who suffer from the more severe forms of this condition, which usually include severe pain upon getting out of bed, after the plantar fascia has been allowed to tighten and shorten over night. Stepping out of bed for those first steps can easily cause more tears which is absolutely excruciating. Using this sort of night brace, support sleeve, arch wrap, or sock, the first steps of the day are on a fascia that is already flexible, having been kept from tightening and swelling. The main problem with this type of pain is that the only real way to gain pain relief is to have surgery. Surgery may provide instant pain relief but it is a long-term solution and will certainly not prevent recurring conditions from occurring.
Foot pain can affect anyone at any age, regardless of how well-fitted or comfortable their shoes may be. Anyone can suffer from arch pain relief, as well as those who wear tightly fitting shoes that put pressure on the foot and cause pain. There are many different exercises that can be used to relieve arch pain relief, and in many cases the solution is simple - upgrade your footwear with an arch supporting insole. Find the perfect insole for your feet and shoes right here! Most people who suffer from the symptoms of plantar fasciitis find that a combination of an overnight brace and arch support insoles in their shoes or boots provides the ideal pain relief and prevention.
