Foot care is crucial to ensure your feet remain healthy. If you don’t provide proper arch support for your feet, they will lose their natural shape over time. This can lead to an array of problems, including constant pain. This overview explains more about arch support and what happens to your feet when they’re not properly supported.

What Is Arch Support?

Ideally, you should buy shoes that have plenty of arch support that align with the curve of the underside of each foot. This type of arch support is not common in all shoes, which is why you can purchase orthotics to place inside each shoe to help maintain that curvature. Many shoes lack proper arch support, including flats, heels, and even athletic shoes.

Maintaining this arch is important because having that curvature helps your foot absorb the shock of impact as you walk, run, or jump. Since this minimizes the pressure placed on the Achilles tendon, maintaining a healthy arch can help reduce the likelihood of an injury to your ankles.

How Do Shoes That Lack This Support Damage Your Feet? 

When you don’t use arch supports, your overall foot care will be compromised. Over time, your feet will lose their arch and leave you with a condition commonly known as flat feet.

Adults with flat feet may experience back and neck pain due to the lack of support, and knee pain may also be common. The extra stress placed on the body can also cause shin splints and stress fractures in the bones. 

Although a foot doctor can’t reverse the condition, they can offer treatments to help alleviate the symptoms. They may recommend rest and applying ice to the feet to help reduce inflammation. Stretching exercises may also be suggested by your doctor. For people with severe symptoms, a foot doctor may also prescribe pain relief medication.

If you experience pain in your ankles, or along the underside of your feet, you should consult a foot care specialist. Louise E. Tortora, DPM, provides care for all types of foot problems, including flat feet, bunions, ingrown toenails, and heel pain. Located in Fairfield, CT, Dr. Tortora performs surgical procedures at the nearby Bridgeport Hospital. To schedule an appointment, call (203) 254-0093.