Collapsed Arch Specialist

What is a collapsed arch?

Normal foot anatomy has an arch between your heel and the ball of your foot. The network of muscles, ligaments, and tendons helps absorb shock, facilitates movement, and provides balance and stability. 

A collapsed arch occurs when the arch of your foot is nearly or entirely flat. You might also know this condition by the more common term flat foot. 

While many people have no pain or other symptoms due to a collapsed arch, you could experience symptoms like:

• Pain along the bottom of your foot and in your ankle
• Foot or ankle pain that intensifies with physical activity like running
• Painful, bony bumps on the top or inside of the foot
• Shoes don’t fit well, leading to blisters and calluses

Collapsed arches can also affect your gait — the way your foot moves when you walk — which can contribute to pain in your knees, hips, and lower back. 

What causes a collapsed arch?

Some people are born with flat feet, but your arches can collapse later in life, often because of damage to your posterior tibial tendon. This tendon attaches your calf muscles to the bones on the inside of your foot. 

You could damage your posterior tibial tendon while participating in sports. Your risk of developing collapsed arches increases if you’re overweight or have diabetes or hypertension. 

How is a collapsed arch diagnosed?

Foot and ankle pain can severely limit your quality of life and get in the way of your regular activities. If you have persistent or severe pain, make an appointment at Active Rehab Clinics for an expert diagnosis.

The practice provides state-of-the-art physical exams, including cutting-edge assessments with the Optojump gait analysis tool and Physimax functional movement assessments. They might also recommend X-rays or MRIs to examine your bones, muscles, and connective tissue in more detail. 

How are collapsed arches treated?

In most cases, Active Rehab Clinics treats collapsed arches with a combination of functional medicine, physical therapy, and custom orthotics. 

Functional medicine and physical therapy include a personalized regimen of exercises and stretches to restore the biomechanical function of your feet and ankles. 

The practice also uses innovative Plantiga AI orthotics. Plantiga uses artificial intelligence to scan and evaluate the precise shape of your feet. This data is used to create a highly customized orthotic that supports your foot and corrects your gait. 

Call Active Rehab Clinics or make an appointment online today if you’re concerned about collapsed arches or have disruptive foot and ankle pain.