Why do I feel pain in the arch of my foot if it's not plantar fasciitis? 7 possible explanations

If you’re experiencing pain in the arch of your foot, your first thought might be that it’s plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of foot arch pain, but there are other conditions that may be causing you discomfort. Some of these issues may heal on their own, while others can require physical therapy or even surgery.

The human foot is made up of 26 bones surrounded by a complex network of muscles, tendons and ligaments. If even one small part of the foot gets injured, you can experience pain and difficulty walking. The sooner you know what’s causing your foot arch pain, the sooner you can address it.

7 possible causes of foot arch pain

In order to treat your foot arch pain effectively, you have to know what condition is causing it. Here are some common causes of foot arch pain that aren’t plantar fasciitis:

1. Compressed nerves — Nerve compression, also known as tarsal tunnel syndrome, affects the tarsal tunnel in the ankle. When the posterior tibial nerve in the tarsal tunnel gets compressed, it can cause pain similar to carpal tunnel in the wrist. This compression causes pain that radiates throughout the foot, as well as tingling and numbness in the arch of the foot. 

2. Fallen arches — Fallen arches, also known as flat feet, can be a significant source of foot arch pain. This condition occurs when the tendons in the foot do not support the arch properly, causing it to collapse or look flat. Some people are born with this condition; others develop it after injuring the tendons or bones in the foot. Fallen arches can create issues with your gait as well as cause pain in the foot arch. Fallen arches may be easier to diagnose because the lack of a foot arch is often visible when the foot is resting flat on the floor.

3. High arches — While fallen arches can cause foot arch pain, the opposite problem may also occur. High arches, also known as cavus foot, is a condition where the middle part of the foot (arch) never fully touches the ground when walking. This puts extra stress on the heel, sole and toes, which can lead to foot arch pain. Some people are born with this condition while others develop it post-injury. Pain can occur in the foot arch and radiate outward to the rest of the foot and even the ankle.

4. Overpronation — This condition occurs when a person’s gait causes the foot to turn inward while walking. This makes the foot flatten more than it should, placing extra stress on the arch of the foot. Overpronation can cause a number of issues, including pain in the knees, hips or back; fallen arches; injury to the foot muscles, tendons and ligaments; and even plantar fasciitis. 

5. Strained muscles — Strained muscles in the arch of the foot can cause pain and limited mobility while walking. This condition occurs when the muscles in and around the foot arch have been overstretched or torn. If your foot arch pain began suddenly after intense activity, you may have strained a muscle in your foot. 

6. Stress fracture — Even a small fracture in the foot can cause significant foot arch pain. Small cracks in the bones of the feet can be caused by repetitive stress or overuse without sufficient recovery time. They may start as bone bruises but form into stress fractures over time. Symptoms can include dull pain that starts or worsens with activity.

7. Tendinitis — If the tendons in your foot get inflamed or irritated, they may swell and cause pain in the foot and foot arch. Tendinitis is often caused by overuse and repetitive movements that aggravate the tendons in the foot. Plantar fasciitis may feel similar to tendinitis, but plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of a ligament, not a tendon.

Rest, gentle stretching and targeted physical therapy can help with many conditions that affect the foot arch. However, you should get your injury evaluated by your health care professional first to rule out any serious conditions. It’s important to get the proper treatment for your injury right away to reduce recovery time and get your mobility back.

Physical therapy is an excellent resource for foot arch pain. At KC Rehab, we offer a wide variety of physical therapy techniques that can address your foot arch pain and get you back on your feet. If you’re ready to take charge of your foot arch pain, contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.