“The arch in my foot has lessened over time?”

Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction is a progressive lowering of the arch secondary to weakness or tearing of the tendons and ligaments that support it.

CAUSE:

Inflammation of a tendon on the inside of the ankle and foot from overuse (uphill running) or wearing excessive flat or worn shoes.
Rupture or tearing of the major tendon (posterior tibial) supporting the arch.
Weakening or tearing of the ligaments supporting the arch and foot joints.
Connective tissue disease (i.e. rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and Reiter’s syndrome).
Trauma to the foot or ankle (i.e. bad sprain turning the foot down and out).
Flatfoot deformity that progresses over time.
Associated with diabetes, hypertension and obesity.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS:

Pain in the arch and inner ankle when walking.
Difficulty standing in one place without developing pain in the ankle and foot.
Unable to run or participate in sports.
Swelling inside the ankle and foot.
Weakness of the muscles and ligaments supporting the arch.
Lowering or flattening of the arch causing a flatfoot deformity.
Foot starts to deform and bulge on the inner ankle and foot.
Foot points outwardly (when standing, the affected foot points away from the body to the outside).
Associated with tight Achilles tendon which further deforms the foot.

TREATMENT:

Identify the primary cause of the problem.
Identify the extent of ligament and/or tendon injury.
Supporting the foot and ankle with braces.
Immobilization in a cast or boot to allow healing (with or without crutches).
Orthotic (custom insole) to support the arch and prevent further damage.
Physical therapy to strengthen the muscles that support the arch and lessen the inflammation in the tendon and joints.
Anti-inflammatories to decrease the swelling and inflammation in the ankle and foot.
Surgery to reconstruct the arch and prevent further damage if the condition has been unresponsive to conservative care.

PROGNOSIS:

If treated early, the deformity and its progression can be minimized.
In more moderate cases surgical stabilization of the foot will allow a return to activities.

In severe cases surgical reconstruction of the arch will allow the person to return to many activities.

You sound like is having fallen arches. please see a podiatrist to see if orthotics are needed.

It is a normal aging change, but if severe, it can cause problems. You may need an arch support to be sure it does not worsen.

Could be from plantar fasciitis. You might need orthotics. We do this in our office.

Could mean you have damaged the tendon that holds the arch up, this can happen with time and I would recommend seeing a podiatrist. We can do custom inserts to help this as well as other things to try and hold the arch back up. If it becomes painful and serious there is always surgery options.

Arch height decreasing over time is normal in patients that are getting older. This is not necessarily a bad thing but could cause arch pain and other types of foot pain.

THE BODY CHAGES WITH TIME, BUT IF IT DOES NOT BOTHER YOU, LEAVE ALONE

It appears that your foot is going flat-footed. See a Podiatrist for this

Only if it causes pain

Not bad, but concerning. Go see a podiatrist to have an evaluation. Are there any symptoms such as pain, weakness, or tiredness of the feet and legs?

It could be a sign of a tendon weakness. It should be evaluated.

As we get older, our feet can change. The arch height can change due to muscle weakness and stretching of ligaments. Would recommend some type of arch support. If it is painful, I would recommend an X-ray. 

Jonathan M. Kletz, DPM

Hello,

Things can change as we get older unfortunately. I would recommend Super Feet orthoses to support the arches and prevent progression. Flat feet can lead to other foot problems/lower extremity pain.

Happy Holidays

Dr. Lui

Adult acquired flat foot is a condition that can cause problems. Most commonly it can cause Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction which causes synovitis, tendonosis, pain and sometimes tearing of the tendon. I recommend orthotics, anti-inflammatories and on occasion physical therapy to avoid surgery. If you are not experiencing pain then I would just seek out a good pair of OTC orthotics. Thanks for your question and Happy Holidays.

This is normal for most people. Try to wear shoes with arch or add an arch support. Do calf stretching to lessen arch strain.

Hi thanks for your question.

It’s only “bad” if it causes pain.

The most common cause of asymmetrical arches is a condition called posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, a very common condition in women ages 45-55.  So,  now what?  You need treatment with either an orthotic or brace,  physical therapy,  no steroids,  ibuorophen/aleve ok provided you have no stomach issues.  Ultimately,  surgery may be necessary.   Stem cells, prp, etc are useless.  An MRI is required to assess the damaged tendon. I advise to go see your podiatrist ASAP!Good luck!Dr SiegelSent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

Our bodies are constantly changing, including the arch height. This is not necessarily "bad", but may mean you need more support for the arch going forward.

It can be a sign of a tendon problem called "Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction." This is a progressive problem that moves through 4 stages. Are you having pain in your foot? Particularly the medial arch or along your medial ankle? If so, this may be a significant problem. Even if you do not have pain, arch supports will probably help with the problem, and stop it from progressing over time.

The foot will change over time. Flattening of the arch is common, and can lead to increased pain of not only the foot, but the knees, hips and back. I recommend you be evaluated by a foot and ankle surgeon (podiatrist) to determine if treatment is needed