A Step Towards Comfort: How Podiatrists Treat High Arches

Although not always problematic, high arches can be painful, making people prone to trips, falls, sprains, tendonitis, and more. If your gait is unstable or your lower limbs tend to sprain often, you should get your feet examined by a podiatrist for high arches.

How can you determine if you have high arches? There is a simple test: wet your feet and place them on a flat surface. If the insides of your feet do not appear in the print, and only a light external border is visible, you have high arches. If the print shows the entire area of your foot, you have flat feet. Of course, your podiatrist can guide you better regarding both conditions.

Here are a few measures that you may adopt to reduce the discomfort caused by high arches:

• Customized orthotics: Consult your podiatrist to recommend customized orthotic inserts to support your arches and enhance your stability. Over-the-counter orthotics may also help; however, orthotics made exclusively to suit the requirement of your feet will be more useful.
• Stretching exercises and physical therapy: Light exercises that stretch your calf muscles and flex your ankles will improve stability and reduce your likelihood of sprains. While lying down straight, stretch your feet to point towards your knees and hold for a few seconds. Then push them forward, in the opposite direction, and hold again. This will improve the elasticity of the muscles in your lower limbs.
• Rolling exercise: Roll a golf ball or any small round object under your arches. Doing so will also flex your muscles and eases stressed ligaments.
• Footwear: Style should not compromise on your comfort. Choose footwear with extra padding, arch support, and a firm grip. Not only will the padding protect your feet, but it will also improve your gait and make walking more stable.
• Persistent pressure on a sprained or damaged muscle can make your injury worse. Apart from pain, leaving it unattended can have long-lasting adverse effects. Watch out for any injuries that may have gone undetected initially.

In extreme cases, you may undergo corrective surgery to overcome the issues associated with high arches. If you are experiencing any foot discomfort, visit your podiatrist without delay. They will examine your feet and suggest the best treatment options to address your issues. Early detection and treatment can prevent your condition from aggravating. The foot experts at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists in the Tucson, Oro Valley, and Green Valley areas of Pima County, Arizona, have unparalleled experience treating all aspects of foot and ankle care. If you have any questions or want to make an appointment, please call (520) 575-0800.