Why do your feet hurt now that you're pregnant?
Pregnancy triggers many different changes in the woman's body. Due to the natural weight gain during pregnancy, a woman's center of gravity is completely altered. This caused you to stand differently, adding pressure to the knees and feet. Two of the most common foot problems are over - pronation and edema.
Over-pronation (flat feet) is when the arch flattens out upon weight bearing and feel roll inward when walking. This can create stress or inflammation on the fibrous band of tissue that runs from the heel to forefoot. The reason many pregnant women suffer from over-pronation is the added pressure on the body as a result of weight gain.
Edema (swelling in the feet) normally occurs in the latter part of pregnancy. Edema results from the extra blood accumulated during pregnancy. The enlarging uterus puts pressure on the blood vessels in the pelvis and legs causing circulation to slow down and blood to pool in the lower extremities. The total water fluid in the body remains the same as before pregnancy, however, it becomes displaced.
TREATMENT AND PREVENTION
There are EFFECTIVE ways to treat both over-pronation and edema during pregnancy.
Over-pronation can be treated with orthotics. In our office we can take digital scan of your feet to detect pressure points, and have a pair of customer inserts ready in less than 2 weeks.
- Elevating feet as much as possible
- Wearing proper footwear
- Drinking plenty of water
- Have your feet measured several times throughout your pregnancy, as they will probably change sizes.
Pregnant women experience a lot of changes during pregnancy. Maintaining quality foot care seems trivial, but it makes you much more comfortable.
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