Pregnancy Foot Pain

Wearing stable, properly fitting shoes is the most important thing you can do to prevent foot pain during pregnancy.

Complaints of foot pain are common during pregnancy, but they can usually be easily avoided or prevented with very conservative treatment.

According to our medical advisory committee, arch and heel pain and fatigue are the most common foot complaints seen in pregnant patients. They are most commonly due to a flattening of the foot. This flattening causes a “tugging” on the muscles and ligaments on the bottom of the foot, which leads to a condition called plantar fasciitis. There are several factors that occur during pregnancy that contribute to this flattening and lengthening of the foot.

• Wider gait
• Increased weight
• Forward shift of the center of body weight
• Relaxation of body ligaments

In order to prevent or limit these problems and reduce foot pain, it is important that pregnant women make sure that their feet are getting adequate support. You can get the support you need through the use of:

• Stable shoes
•  arch supports
• Custom prescription orthotics if necessary

The use of stable, properly fitting shoes is the most important tool in preventing foot pain during pregnancy. 

Most women do well with the correct shoes and appropriate arch supports. If these do not provide relief from your foot pain, you should talk with your podiatrist, who may find that you should be wearing a custom prescription orthotic to provide adequate support to your feet.