Over Pronation 

or flat feet, is a common biomechanical problem that occurs in the walking process when a person’s arch collapses upon weight bearing. As the arch collapses, it stretches the Plantar Fascia Ligament This motion can cause extreme stress or inflammation on the plantar fascia, potentially causing severe discomfort and leading to other foot problems.  Also, as the arch collapse, the ankle drops which then causes the tibia and fibula to rotate outward.  This changes the alignment in the knee, hip and spine.  Our feet are the foundation of the body. If the arches are not properly supported, it can affect the entire body.

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a foot issue that occurs when the Plantar Fascia Ligament is overstretched from a collapsing arch.  When the ligament is pushed to stretch further than its range, it can tear in different places along the ligament or near the attachment points at a person’s heal.  Plantar fasciitis is painful and a chronic ailment that can heal by resting the feet, strengthening the muscles around the ligament and preventing the ligament from overstretching.  Most of us push through the foot pain and continue walking through the day.  Every time we step down while the ligament is already weak and injured, the arch collapses.  It is important to constantly support the arch to prevent and heal from plantar fasciitis. Learn more about Plantar Fasciitis here. Read our article titled “Plantar Fasciitis 101” 

Forefoot Pain and Neuromas

Do you feel like you’re stepping on pins and needles?  Many people experience extreme pain in the ball of the foot by the metatarsal heads.  Sometimes it is due to bruising from too much pressure and impact on these bones.  Other times the pain comes from Neuromas which are benign tumors made up mostly of nerves cells.  In this extreme case, place the orthotic with the raised wing portion just behind the bones in the front of the foot.  The shape creates a ramp that drops off before the metatarsal bones.  This will offload an increased amount of pressure from the ball of the foot by suspending the bones and distributing more pressure to the heel.

Heel Pain 

One major problem for our bodies is the constant pounding caused by the hard, flat, unforgiving surfaces upon which we walk. These flat surfaces, such as concrete, asphalt, tile and more, result in higher impacts on our bodies.  The initial contact point upon each step is our heel.  Heel pain can be due to a bruised heel; It can be caused by a Heel Spur; It can also be caused by Plantar Fasciitis.  The rocker aspect of sole arches helps to reduce impact force. By dropping off before the heel, it somewhat suspends the heel to offload and redistribute pressure evenly across the rest of the foot.

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.