Our feet come in all different shapes and sizes, and that’s especially true about our foot’s arch. Your foot arch plays a crucial role in helping disperse the weight of your body, and it also provides support when performing some simple movements, like walking, running or jumping. Over time, due in part to repetitive stress and the natural aging process, our foot arch can fall, changing how stress is dispersed and potentially leading to painful foot issues.
So if you begin to notice a flattening of your foot arch, or you want to prevent a fallen arch, is there anything you can do to reshape or protect your foot’s natural arch? We explain if you can reshape your flat feet in today’s blog.
Reshaping Your Flat Feet
The arches in your feet are comprised of bones, ligaments, tendons and the thick band of tissue known as the plantar fascia. As these structures eventually begin to show the signs of degenerative wear and tear over the years, our foot arch can start to flatten. Addressing flat feet is less about finding a way to regain a healthy arch and more about helping your feet adjust to the change and preventing additional flattening. The best way to ensure your foot arch is protected and able to handle the stress that you put on it in a healthy way include:
Physical Therapy – Physical therapy can actually help to restore a healthy foot shape if your issue was tied to overuse or poor form, otherwise it can simply help to strengthen structures in the arch and the surrounding areas so that function is preserved. PT helps to strengthen the tissues that support your arch and maintain flexibility in the foot area, which also supports healthy stress distribution.
Exercise – Exercise is another great way to strengthen your feet and support a healthy arch. Some people find that as they get older, low-impact exercises target their feet without overloading them with stress. Swapping swimming or cycling in for a running program can have both protective and proactive benefits for your foot arch.
Weight Management – The more you weigh, the more stress your arches will be under with every step you take, and over time this will take a toll on your feet. If you work towards a healthy weight or maintain an ideal weight as you age, you can limit excess stress on your foot arches.
Orthotics – Custom orthotics can provide some additional support to your arch, reducing the likelihood that certain activities will prove too stressful for your feet. These custom orthotics can be designed for your specific foot shape, giving you an incredible amount of support.
Surgery – Finally, a minimally invasive surgical procedure can be performed to address the issue that’s contributing to your arch issue. Unless the flat foot issue has become extremely debilitating, most patients find enough relief through conservative treatments to avoid the need for an operation. Your foot specialist can also explain if a procedure would or would not be advised based on the underlying cause of your discomfort.