Did you know that there is a connection between sore ankles and fallen arches? Fallen arches, also referred to as flat feet, can happen when we repeatedly wear unsupportive shoes or often walk barefoot. These risk factors are magnified when a person is overweight or has a history of injuring their ankles. How are all these things connected when it comes to having flat feet and sore ankles?

Unsupportive shoes deprive our feet and ankles of the support they need. This makes room for our bones, tendons, and ligaments to shift and be stressed in ways they shouldn’t be, leading to issues like flat feet, weak ankles, plantar fasciitis, bunions, and more.

Similarly, walking barefoot for long periods of time can lead to our arches falling and our feet flattening. For some people, this may never become an issue, but for many, it can result in developing uncomfortable conditions and make walking barefoot very painful.

Ankle sprains can, even after just one instance of injury can weaken our ankles by reducing the elasticity of our tendons and joints. It worsens with each injury, especially when you don’t follow through with proper treatment by your podiatrist.

Being overweight can have an immense amount of health risks. When it comes to the health of our feet and ankles, any existing foot issues can be made worse simply by carrying extra weight. When you’re a healthy weight, your feet still handle multiple times your own body weight thanks to gravity. Putting extra weight on top of their workload can cause issues to develop or worsen even faster.

When it comes down to it, flat feet can lead to weakened, sore ankles while weakened, sore ankles can also lead to flat feet. The best way to prevent your conditions from worsening, or developing in the first place, is to see Dr. Scott E. Hughes, Dr. Greg P. Vogt, and Dr. Christine I. Tumele at Foot & Ankle Specialists. Contact us today to schedule your appointment at our locations in Monroe or Lambertville, Michigan!