How Insoles For Flat Feet Can Help Ease The Symptoms

By Rosella Campbell


A surprising number of people experience chronic foot problems. Swelling and pain makes it difficult to walk or run. A large percentage of people suffering from such problems are simply wearing the wrong type of shoes, with high heels being the number one culprit. Another common problem seen by podiatrists is fallen arches. This means that the patient does not have an instep. Insoles for flat feet can help to ease the discomfort experienced by these patients.

People with fallen arches experience a range of symptoms. In extreme cases they may experience constant pain. They also find it difficult to stand on their toes and if they are forced to stand up for long periods they can also experience swelling of the ankles and acute lower back pain. Their shoes wear down unevenly and often collapse toward the inside of the foot.

There is no cure for this condition. Podiatrists routinely recommend sufferers to try special soles that are designed to support the arches. The vast majority of sufferers benefit from these soles. They can be bought over the counter and in special cases a podiatrist can even order a custom made set if, for some reason, ready made products simply do not provide relief.

Even if the condition cannot be cured a lot can be done to lessen the pain and discomfort. Sufferers are encouraged to perform a variety of exercises that are all designed to strengthen the ligaments and muscles of the foot. This includes running on the toes as long as possible and stretching the toes apart from each other in several repetitions. Sufferers are also advised to walk barefoot as often as possible.

In some extremely rare cases surgery is attempted to try and restore the arches. An artificial insert is placed in the bones of the ankle. However, many experts warn that this surgery is dangerous and that a failure will mean that the patient will suffer constant pain over the long term. There is even a danger that the foot may become deformed.

Arches can drop for a variety of reasons. All babies are born without arches, which develop later on, but in some cases they simply do not develop at all. Older people often develop dropped arches if the tendons in the ankle become weak. If the tendons become inflamed due to a physical foot or ankle injury the arches can also drop. Many obese people develop this condition.

It is interesting to note that the inserts worn by people with dropped arches can also help those with healthy arches to prevent them from dropping. Obese people should seriously consider losing weight, as obesity is one of the main causes of this complaint. Another major cause is the constant wearing of high heels. In fact, podiatrists agree that high heels are the direct cause of most foot problems experienced by women.

Dropped arches can cause discomfort and pain. However, sufferers can do much to relieve the effects of the symptoms. Exercise helps and simple precautions such as refraining to stand for long periods are also effective. Special shoe inserts that support the arch have been in use for decades. There is no risk involved in wearing them and they have proven to be extremely effective.




About the Author:



0 comments:

Post a Comment

Twitter Delicious Facebook Digg http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/weightloss33 Favorites More

 
Design by Free WordPress Themes | Bloggerized by Lasantha - Premium Blogger Themes | Facebook Themes