8 conditions that can be linked to fallen arch pain

Fallen arches can be caused by a variety of conditions. Research estimates that about 4% of people have fallen arches, making it a relatively common condition in the U.S. If you’re someone dealing with pain in your feet and even in your ankles, you may want to know more about some of the conditions most commonly linked to this type of pain.

What are some of the conditions that can cause fallen arch pain?

There are a few different conditions that could explain why a person's arches in their feet have fallen and become painful. If you have any of the conditions listed below, you may benefit from getting treatment with a physical therapist:

• Tendon injury — One condition that can cause fallen arch pain is an injury to the tendon. Your Achilles tendon, for example, which is located toward the back of your foot near your heel, can become torn or inflamed. The tendons in the feet make up the foot arches, so when one tendon becomes injured, it can cause your arches to be affected as a result.
• Bone injury — Another condition that can cause fallen arch pain is an injury to the bone. Broken bones in the foot can affect the tendons and ligaments in the feet and, ultimately the arches, to fall and become painful.
• Rheumatoid arthritis — In some cases, those who have rheumatoid arthritis will experience fallen arches. Rheumatoid arthritis can cause deterioration in ligaments, joints, cartilage and bones, which can cause the arches in your feet to deteriorate over time and become flat. 
• Nerve damage or pinching — If you are dealing with nerve damage or a pinched nerve, you may also be at risk of developing fallen arch pain. Everyone has nerves that travel down through their lower limbs and into their feet. When one of these nerves becomes damaged or compressed, a person may feel pain in the arch of their foot, similar to the pain felt when a foot arch falls. 
• Being overweight — Another condition that can cause pain in the arches is obesity. The excess weight can strain the tendons, ligaments, and joints in the feet and cause the arches to fall. 
• Pregnancy — Pregnancy is another condition that can cause issues with arches. Pregnant women often gain weight as a result of their pregnancy. This additional weight can place pressure on the arches and cause strain. Not only this, but their center of gravity will often shift and place strain on the arches as well.
• Old age — Over time, the ligaments and tendons in the feet will change and age. They may become weak and less able to support the arches in your feet. Fallen arch pain in older adults sometimes also has to do with years of wearing unsupportive footwear.
• Diabetes — One of the effects of diabetes is that it can cause the arches in your feet to deteriorate over time. Blood sugar levels that are left unchecked can cause the bones to fracture, which may cause the arches to fall. 

How can physical therapy help someone experiencing pain due to fallen arches?

Physical therapy has the potential to help strengthen the arches in your feet while also relieving pain. If you're experiencing pain in your feet that just won't go away on its own, physical therapy may be right for you for the following reasons: 

• Helping to identify the source of your fallen arches — One of the benefits of going to physical therapy for fallen arches is that a physical therapist can help you identify why your arches have fallen. Whether it be due to an injury to your foot or a medical condition, they can help you figure out what the cause of your pain may be.
• Assessing how your fallen arches have affected the rest of your body — Developing fallen arches has the potential to affect other areas of the body. They may cause strain in the muscles and other tendons, for example, that may eventually lead to other complications. A physical therapist can examine your feet and assess what next steps should be taken.
• Reducing the pain you’re experiencing in your fallen arches — Physical therapy care for fallen arches can help reduce the pain you're experiencing in your feet. Therapists can help reduce inflammation and teach you ways to properly support your feet so that you feel less pain. 

Alliance PTP can connect you with a PT clinic to treat your fallen arch pain

At Alliance Physical Therapy Partners, we’re proudly bringing together physical therapy practices across the country to help people get the high-quality PT they need. 

Want to see a physical therapist in person? We can put you in touch with an Alliance PTP partner that’s close to you and can help you address any pain felt as a result of fallen arches. You don’t have to let your fallen arches make your life more uncomfortable. Let a PT specialist help.

Not keen on in-person PT sessions or not close to an Alliance PTP partner? No worries. We also offer effective and affordable virtual physical therapy through our Agile Virtual Physical Therapy platform. 

Come find help for your injury or chronic condition today!