Commonly affecting people of all ages, flat feet—also known as pes planus or fallen arches—are a disorder. For those with flat feet (pes planus), the arches of the foot either do not develop or collapse with time; therefore, when standing, the entire sole touches the ground. Although flat feet are not always troublesome, occasionally, they cause foot, ankle, knee, hip, and even lower back problems, as well as discomfort and pain.
Our specialty at Florida Foot & Ankle Clinic is identifying and treating flat feet. We provide our patients with the best choices for controlling symptoms and enhancing foot function. This blog will go over flat foot causes, symptoms, and treatment choices so you may better know when to see a specialist and how to keep your feet in good shape.
What Are Flat Feet?
When the arches on the interior of the foot flatten, flat feet result from the foot’s full contact with the ground. Built from a network of bones, ligaments, and tendons, the arch absorbs shocks and maintains the body’s weight during movement. The absence of the arch causes the feet to flatten and become more flexible, changing a person’s stance, walk, or running form.
Two Types of Flat Feet:
- Flexible Flat Feet: While the person is seated or off the ground, the arch is seen, but it flattens upon standing. This is the most frequent kind of pes planus, usually not causing major issues.
- Rigid Flat Feet: Whether or whether the foot is bearing weight, the arch is always flat with rigid pes planus. This disorder could also cause foot-restricted mobility and stiffness. Less prevalent and stemming from more underlying severe problems like arthritis or bone abnormalities are rigid, flat feet.
Causes of Flat Feet
Among the several causes of flat feet are genes, injuries, and lifestyle. Among the most often occurring factors are:
1. Genetics and Developmental Factors
It can be congenital; that is, some people are born with the disorder. In youngsters, the arch may not grow completely until around age 6 or 7; occasionally, the arch may remain flat throughout maturity. A family member with flat feet is more likely to have others in the family also get this disorder.
2. Injury or Trauma
Flat feet can arise from foot, ankle, or tendon injuries (such as those to the posterior tibial tendon, which supports the arch). Trauma, such as fractures or sprains, can compromise the structures supporting the arch, causing it to collapse over time.
3. Age-Related Changes
A slow flattening of the arch results from weakening and losing suppleness in the ligaments and tendons in the feet as individuals age. Common among older persons is adult-acquired pes planus, usually brought on by injury or malfunction of the posterior tibial tendon.
4. Obesity
Extra body weight strains the feet and may cause the arches to flatten. The additional strain over time can weaken the foot’s supporting components, producing pes planus.
5. Medical Conditions
A number of medical disorders, including diabetes, hypertension, and arthritis, can compromise the structure and operation of the foot. Mainly arthritis can cause inflammation and joint degeneration in the feet, which helps flat feet to arise.
6. Improper Footwear
Particularly over extended periods of time, wearing shoes lacking appropriate arch support can aggravate flat foot conditions. This is particularly true of shoes that lack sufficient padding or are too flexible since they might distort the foot’s natural curves.
Symptoms of Flat Feet
Only some people with flat feet report problems. Still, the degree of the disease will affect the variation in symptoms that do arise. Typical symptoms comprise:
- Usually felt in the arch, heel, or ankle, foot pain may aggravate following extended durations of standing, walking, or physical exercise. Because of changed body mechanics, the discomfort might also radiate to the legs, knees, hips, or lower back.
- Swelling down the inside of the ankle, particularly if the posterior tibial tendon is affected, can indicate inflammation in the foot tendons.
- Limited mobility or stiffness in the foot, particularly in those with rigid, flat feet, could point to a more severe underlying problem, including arthritis or joint abnormalities.
- Concerning difficulty, Walking or standing for long lengths of time can be painful or challenging if pes planus compromise stability and balance.
- Shoe Wear Patterns: Uneven wear on the soles of shoes can result from overpronation—that is, from excessive inward foot rolling—while walking. This tendency could point to pes planus.
Diagnosing Flat Feet
Our podiatrists at Florida Foot and Ankle Clinic look closely to identify flat feet and ascertain their underlying causes. Included in the assessment are:
- Your podiatrist will physically examine your feet, looking for arch height, flexibility, alignment, and any swelling or pain. To evaluate how the feet handle stress, you might be asked to stand, walk, or execute certain motions.
- Particularly if an injury, arthritis, or other structural abnormality is suspected, X-rays, ultrasounds, or MRI scans can be performed to assess the soft tissues, bones, and joints in the foot.
- A gait study can assist in finding aberrant walking patterns, including overpronation, that might be aggravating pain or discomfort.
Treatment Options for Flat Feet
The degree of the problem and the existence of symptoms will determine the treatment for flat feet. Florida Foot and Ankle Clinic provides a spectrum of conservative and advanced therapy choices to help reduce pain, enhance foot function, and prevent complications.
1. Footwear and Orthotic Support
Wearing supportive shoes is among the easiest yet most successful treatments for flat feet. Firm heel counters, arch support, and cushioning in shoes help improve foot mechanics and ease discomfort. Custom orthotic inserts help with extra arch support, alignment correction, and weight distribution throughout the foot.
2. Physical Therapy and Exercises
Exercises for stretching and strengthening help to increase foot and ankle flexibility, build the muscles supporting the arch, and lessen foot pain. Often advised to improve foot stability and avoid symptoms from aggravating are exercises that include calf stretches, toe curls, and arch lifts.
3. Activity Modification
Reducing activities that strain the foot excessively, such as running on hard surfaces, will help control discomfort. Excellent low-impact exercises for preserving fitness without stressing the arches are swimming and cycling.
4. Medications
Ibuprofen and other over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) can help ease flat foot-related inflammation and pain.
5. Taping and Bracing
For people with posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, particularly, taping or bracing the foot can offer further assistance. This technique stabilizes the foot and stops too much arch flattening during exercise.
6. Surgical Intervention
Although pes planus seldom need for surgery, in severe situations when conservative treatments fail, surgical intervention may be taken to fix structural defects or injured tendons.
When to Seek Professional Care?
If flat feet cause you ongoing discomfort, edema, or mobility problems, see a podiatrist at Florida Foot and Ankle Clinic. Early diagnosis and treatment can help improve your quality of life, prevent further complications, and restore foot function.
Conclusion
Flat feet are a common condition that can cause pain and interfere with your regular activities. Still, with the correct therapy and care, symptoms can be managed, and functional feet can be maintained. Our goal at Florida Foot and Ankle Clinic is to give flat feet and other foot-related problems complete treatment. If you worry about your feet, get in touch with us right now to arrange a visit and start toward improved foot condition.
