Pain in the....Arch?

[greenshamr]

I've been using the eliptical for an hour 5x a week for the last 5 wks....I've been experiecing pain in the left arch of my foot. Nothing that makes me have to stop or causes me any trouble walking. Any ideas on what it might be?

[kaypeeoh]

I've been using the eliptical for an hour 5x a week for the last 5 wks....I've been experiecing pain in the left arch of my foot. Nothing that makes me have to stop or causes me any trouble walking. Any ideas on what it might be?

Shoe laced too tight? Shoe too worn? Early plantar fasciitis? Try a treadmill instead to see whether it's being caused by the eliptical. If you don't get the arch pain on the treadmill it suggests something you're doing on the eliptical is causing it.

[italiangel]

This recently became an issue for me in both of my feet. I bought some shoe inserts to help support my arches and it really has help relieve the pain. I have pretty high arched feet and I also would walk barefoot alot on tiled floors. I also started doing feet strengthening exercises.

[EmmaB]

It sounds like the beginnings of plantar fasciitis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantar_fasciitis

I have the same thing.

I would suggest getting some arch supports asap.

EDIT: Actually, I could well be wrong. I looked up an episode of the radio program The Health Report that I heard last year about plantar fasciitis (http://www.abc.net.au/rn/healthreport/stories/2006/1784908.htm) and they say near the beginning:

Norman Swan: So it's not in the middle of the foot, it's actually at the heel?

Ben DiGiovanni: Exactly, right at the base of the heel pad on the bottom aspect, it's not that arch discomfort but it's that pain in the heel right at the base there.
However, the pain I get is at the very back of the arch and arch supports have helped, so ...

Good luck with it!

Emma

[greenshamr]

I think you are all right...I need some inserts because I have extremely high arches. I'm also stretching more which seems to help. Plantar fasciitis can also cause pain in the arch as well.

[CandidCam]

Could be tendonitis or cuboid syndrome, too, depending upon where the pain is. I have had chronic pain especially in my outer right arch. It started about the time that I picked back up on hills and speedwork this Spring. What has helped more is switching to a shoe with a bit more arch support (I have very low arches that collapse a lot with each step and wide feet that) AND especially wearing shoes in the house at all times.

k

[ysabella]

Stretching more should help. Tight muscles will actually pull on the tendons and fascia.

The stretch for this is actually quite easy and pleasant:


Stand with your toes on a step and your heels hanging off the step
Drop your heels down below the step, stretching the foot and calf
Rise up onto your toes (contracting calf muscles)
Repeat


I have been doing this for years, and I swear by it. I have a brother and sister who both have plantar fasciitis so I often think I managed to prevent it in myself.

I hope your pain gets better!