If you love to run or taking part in organized sports, you’re at risk for shin splints, knee pain, Achilles tendonitis, and other lower body injuries. Medial tibial stress syndrome, as it is called by the Mayo Clinic, is a pain that travels down the distance of the shin bone and is caused by undue stress on the bones, muscles, and ligaments of the lower leg. This stress can be brought on by running activities in any setting and can be aggravated by flat feet and insufficient foot arch support.
Leading sports therapy experts suggest using ice, resting from running or sports, and using more comfortable shoes, preferably with the use of sports orthotics. Icing the shin and supporting structures of the lower leg help relieve pain while lessening the amount of swelling promptly after an injury. Relaxation is always recommended because it allows for the bones, tendons and muscles to repair themselves. Finally, wearing more comfortable shoes can dramatically help avoid reinjuring the lower legs and feet by providing sufficient cushioning and foot arch support. This encourages correct foot location and takes in shock. Orthotics for sports can make all the difference in performance and endurance because they provide support for the foot arches and additional cushioning. For people with flat feet, these special sports orthotics raise the arch appropriately and realign the feet.
Over-pronation due to flat feet can cause more than just shin splints to occur. Plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, ankle, knee, and low back pain, as well as Achilles tendonitis can be attributed to flat feet. If sports orthotics are not used during physically stressful activities, reinjury and serious foot problems can persist. The mechanics involved in these ailments are connected to the plantar fascia tendon, which is the key structure supporting the arch of the foot. It is an elastic structure that stretches to absorb the shock caused when the foot bears weight during activity. In people with flat feet, this tendon is too long and has lost its lengthening abilities. Its ability to absorb shock has left completely. This situation also causes excess pronation of the foot, or the inclination for the ankles to roll toward the center of the body. As a result, the weight of the bdy is incorrectly concentrated on one region rather than being equally distributed over the entire area of the foot. This is how insoles for sports can make all the difference in cases of flat feet and other foot ailments; they provide stability and softness in the proper spots.
