

The arches act as shock absorbers, or springboards. Together they create a structure that supports your body weight when you stand, walk, or run. Muscles, tendons, and ligaments make up the foot arches. The lateral arches act as pillars for the transverse arch. The lateral longitudinal arch is on the outer side of the foot, and the medial one, on the inner side of the foot. In fact, children develop an arch when they’re 3 to 10 years old.)Įach foot has three arches: two longitudinal (across the length of the foot) and one transverse (across the width of the foot). The barefoot imprint of most adults has a gap on the inner side, between the ball of the foot and the heel. If you’ve ever walked barefoot on damp sand, you probably know what the imprint of your foot looks like. To be able to identify this kind of foot pain, you need to understand the role of the arches of the foot. It can refer to any pain located between the ball of the foot and the heel. What Is Arch Pain?Īrch pain is discomfort, inflammation, or tenderness in the arch of the foot. Or, if you’re suffering from arch pain, learning about its treatment could help you prepare for a doctor’s appointment. Many things can cause it: injury, wearing the wrong kind of footwear, excessive walking, standing improperly, and more.īeing familiar with its causes and symptoms might help you prevent it. You may not notice the hard work your feet do - until you get arch pain. They absorb the shock when you walk or run, and they bear your weight when you stand. That’s because the arches of the foot do a lot of work every day.

Though foot arch pain is common in athletes, it can happen to anyone, whether they love exercise or enjoy living life slowly.
