Why Do My Arches Hurt & Do I Need Orthotics?

In the majority of people, their feet have an arch or curve at the bottom medial side of the foot, which acts as a shock absorber and provides flexibility to their foot. The structure of our arch needs to be flexible yet sturdy to accommodate to different walking surfaces.

Having flat feet is also known as having fallen arches, and means the arches of the feet are low or there are no arches. Flat feet may cause pain as a result of strain to muscles, ligaments and tendons making it painful to walk.

There are many causes of flat feet including:

Trauma to the foot or ankle

• Age
• Obesity
• Arthritis
• Pregnancy
• Diabetes

Many people have flat feet and don’t experience any problems and require no further treatment. However, others may experience that their feet tire easily, arch pain, heel pain, swelling in the bottom of the foot, pain in the toes, calluses, low back, leg, knee and ankle pain. If you experience any of these symptoms then it’s time to seek medical help as orthotics can help with flat feet.

In our office, orthotics are custom made devices to improve the position and alignment of the feet to improve balance, posture, stability and foot function. In the case of flat feet, where the feet have a tendency to roll in, orthotics support the arch of the foot to reduce excessive weight bearing on the inside of the feet. As a result this cause a more natural curve in the arches of the feet and reduces the strain on the surrounding ligaments, muscle and tissue.

Following a thorough gait analysis and biomechanical evaluation orthotics are made by a foam-cast impression or through 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional computer generated images of the feet. Please feel free to contact our office for your gait analysis today. 604-439-1230

Dr. Kaila, DC