So many people walk with arch pain as a result of too flat an arch or too high an arch. As we get older, the bones and ligaments that support the arch can reduce with gravity or become aggravated by overuse. Arch abnormalities can also cause heel or ball of the foot pain due to a shift in body weight. To make matters worse, the aging process causes a general thinning of the fat in the foot (especially in the ball of the foot) which is our body's natural cushion.
In most cases a foot device called an orthotic (prescription or non-prescription) can be placed in the shoe which can provide support and place the foot in a better functioning position. Non-prescription devices that I sell through my office are feather light, wafer thin and go in all shoes (even sandals and heels) and are not expensive--about $125 compared to $450-$850 for cast-made orthotics.
When devices and conservative treatment fail, some of the above mentioned problems can be successfully resolved with surgery in most cases. Should you have arch, ball of the foot or heel pain, some type of orthotic device is probably the best type of treatment.
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