Merced Chiropractor

Shin Splints and Fallen Arches: The Ways that Sports Can Damage Your Feet

If you enjoy running or taking part in team sports, you’re at risk for shin splints, pain in the knees, Achilles tendonitis, and other lower body injuries. Medial tibial stress syndrome, as it is referred to by the Mayo Clinic, is a pain that goes down the length of the shin bone and is caused by too much pressure on the bones, muscles, and ligaments of the lower leg. This stress can be caused by by running activities in any setting and can be made worse by flat feet and insufficient foot arch support.

Many sports therapy experts suggest using ice, taking a break from running or sports, and using better shoes, preferably together with sports orthotics. Putting ice on the shin and supporting structures in the lower leg help alleviate pain while decreasing the amount of swelling promptly after an injury. Relaxation is always advised because it allows for the bones, tendons and muscles to repair themselves. Finally, using better shoes can drastically help deter re-injury to the lower legs and feet by providing proper cushioning and arch support. This promotes good foot arrangement and resists shock. Sport insoles can make all the difference in endurance and performance because they offer support for the foot arches as well as extra cushioning. For people with flat feet, these specialized sports orthotics support the arch properly and realign the lower body.

Over-pronation caused by flat feet can cause more than just shin splints to occur. Plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, knee, ankle, and lower back pain, as well as Achilles tendonitis can all be brought on by flat feet. If sports orthotics are not utilized during strenuous sports activities, re-injury and major foot pain can ensue. The workings involved in these problems are connected to the plantar fascia tendon, which is the central structure supporting the foot arch. It is a band-like structure that elongates to absorb the shock produced when the foot carries our body weight during sports activity. In people with flat feet, this tissue has been over-stretched and has lost its lengthening abilities. Its ability to absorb shock has disappeared. This situation also causes over-pronation of the foot, or the propensity for the ankles to roll toward the center of the body. As a result, the weight of the bdy is abnormally centered on one area rather than being uniformly distributed over the entire area of the foot. This is the reason why sports orthotics can be of significant help in cases of flat feet and other foot ailments; they provide support and cushion in the proper spots.