Foot Instep Pain – Causes, Treatment & Prevention

Pain instep

Not only soccer players or competitive athletes are affected by pain in the instep , but often also amateur athletes. Most of the time they overexerted themselves in training. The back of the foot is a complex structure made up of many tendons, bones, muscles and nerves. Some are superficial at this point and are therefore highly exposed to external influences.

What is foot arch pain?

Athletes in particular often complain of pain in the instep. The foot consists of the tarsus, metatarsal and toes. In addition, there are the ligaments , tendons , small muscles and ankle joints. Pain on the instep of the foot can occur in all of these areas if one of the structures is damaged. The reasons for this are, for example, injuries, illnesses or malpositions. The pain on the instep caused by the damage can manifest itself as pain at rest or under stress . However, they can also occur acutely. The reason for this is often wearing the wrong shoes.

causes

There are many causes of instep pain. However, they are almost always related to overloading or incorrect loading of the foot. This is often the case with track and field athletes or marathon runners. Changing shoes is often enough to suddenly cause pain. Sometimes, however, they only become noticeable after several training sessions. In addition to sports, there are other triggers for pain in the instep.Obesity , for example, can be a cause. This is because there is more tissue surrounding the foot, making it permanently enlarged and barely fitting in a shoe. The pressure points can cause nerve compression, which can lead to pain in the arch of the foot, numbness and even a complete loss of muscles or sensitivity. In addition, the weight on the feet is much higher, which can cause pain in the instep. Being overweight can also lead to peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Here, peripheral arteries are blocked by deposits, so that the foot is no longer supplied with fresh, oxygen-rich blood .

The result is cold, pale, pulseless feet that are painful. On top of that, there are various diseases such as diabetes, gout, rheumatism and arthritis that can lead to instep pain. A torn ligament becomes noticeable through a reddish discoloration of the tissue and through sudden, severe pain. The coagulated blood settles near the sole of the foot after two to three days. Now the spot is bluish-black. In addition to the pain in the instep, there is also swelling .

Diseases

diagnosis and course

In the case of pain in the arch of the foot, it is important that the doctor makes a reliable diagnosis and then initiates appropriate treatment. In some cases, the foot pain disappears on its own, especially if it occurs after a short, unfamiliar exertion. If they last longer, it is advisable to consult a doctor. This is especially true if the ankle is swollen and overheated. In this case, an accurate diagnosis is important. First of all, the doctor asks a few questions in order to get information about the specific causes of the pain in the arch of the foot and to be able to narrow down the diagnosis more specifically.

The pain and other symptoms should be described as precisely as possible. Any pre-existing conditions also play a role. The foot and joints are then examined. The doctor checks, for example, whether there is swelling and fluid has accumulated (joint effusion). Various movement tests are also helpful to check whether mobility is restricted or whether certain muscles are shortened. Blood tests and imaging diagnostic methods, such as ultrasound , CT and MRI serve to confirm the finding or the suspicion.

treatment and therapy

If pain in the arch of the foot occurs, for example after jogging or other sports, a break of several days usually helps. It is also often necessary to change shoes. You should definitely refrain from running until you are completely free of symptoms. Otherwise, the pain could become chronic and lead to much longer forced breaks. Cooling or heat therapy can help to some degree, but the key to recovery is to relieve the instep.

If the cause of the pain in the arch of the foot is not when walking, but instead in a chronic degenerative process, for example due to the disease rheumatism, special treatment concepts must be worked out together with the doctor. This serves the purpose of making the process as painless as possible. NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) or paracetamol are also used here. If taken long-term, the drugs are combined with a proton pump inhibitor. This prevents the stomach from becoming overly acidic, as is often the case after long-term use of NSAIDs.

If there is a malposition of the foot, orthopedic insoles offer good support. These are worn during the day and during sports. However, no additional insoles may be used in shoes with an already integrated, individually tailored footbed. This would lead to even more misalignments. Physical measures in combination with pain therapy can also help with metatarsal pain.

prevention

Appropriate shoes that are not too tight, as well as an extensive warm-up to stretch the tendons are essential for healthy jogging , because this connection often causes pain in the instep. Orthopedic insoles are recommended if the feet are misaligned. Pressure relief plays an important role in prevention. This means that no pressure should be applied to the instep.Walking barefoot all day is ideal for your feet. Sometimes when there is pain in the arch of the foot it is better to rest and relieve the foot, while in other cases it is more important that the foot remains mobile. This is where the doctor treating you can give you the best advice. Whether cooling or heat can relieve the pain in the instep also depends on the cause. Therefore, seeing a doctor is very important.

Dorothy Farrar

Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.

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