Blog

All About Flat Feet

If you look at a standard healthy foot from the side, you will see a slight rise that’s known as the arch, which is created by several tendons in the foot and lower leg.


Flat feet, which is sometimes referred to as fallen arches, is a common foot condition, one where there’s little to no arch. While numerous individuals with flat feet don’t have any symptoms, people with flat feet sometimes experience lower leg pain, swelling in the sole, fatigue, and even pain. The condition can either be inherited or acquired at some point in your life.


Podiatrists are the medical professionals responsible for diagnosing and treating flat feet. While medical treatments can be used to help in alleviating the symptoms of flat feet and create an arch, there are certain things that you can do to ensure that your condition does not get worse.



Photo by Snack Toronto: https://www.pexels.com/photo/yellow-steel-bathtub-1630344/


Who Gets Flat Feet?


Children can be born with flat feet but grow out of them as their feet continue to develop.


Acquired flat feet that’s common in adults is a condition that results from several problems, with the most common one being inflammation or damage to the posterior tibial tendon (PTT) that extends from the lower leg to the ankle to the middle of the arch.


Other common causes of flat feet include:


- Dislocated or broken bones


- Torn or stretched tendons


- Damaged nerves


- Certain health conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis


- Obesity and pregnancy can also increase your risk for acquiring fallen arches due to the weight pressing on your feet constantly. Scoliosis, diabetes, unequal leg lengths, and aging are additional risk factors.



Flat feet can lead to several complications if not treated, which include:


- Back pain


- Pressure sores and ulcers


- Gait problems


- Discomfort when walking or standing


- Misaligned heel and foot bones


- Plantar fasciitis


- Bone spurs


- Foot and leg pain



Treatment can not only help relieve the symptoms but also strengthen the arch tendons.


How Can You Ensure That Flat Feet Doesn’t Get Worse?


If you have flat feet, there are several things you can do to support the arch and ensure that it doesn’t fall farther.



1. Change Your Shoes


Narrow-toed or high-heeled shoes can themselves cause flat feet or make your condition worse if you already have it. To remedy the situation, use arched shoe inserts or footwear that provides arch support such as Arcopedico.


2. Lose Weight


Having excess weight not only puts additional strain on the feet but also causes stress to the posterior tibial tendon. If you lose weight, you reduce your risk for fallen arches.


Losing excess weight and eating well and exercising regularly also helps lower your risk for type 2 diabetes that makes flat feet worse and leads to other serious foot complications, such as foot ulcers and peripheral neuropathy.


3. Stretch and Strengthen


Try out targeted workouts for arch tendons, which are essentially what runners and other athletes use as warmups. You can even do yoga, which helps you stretch the entire body, including the feet and calves.


A physical therapist can create a low-impact workout program for you to strengthen your foot muscles and tendons without the risk of tissue tears among other injuries.


4. Wear Prescription Orthotics


Over-the-counter orthotics are largely ineffective. A podiatrist can make a digital impression of your feet and send it to a lab that custom-designs and manufactures inserts designed to correct the alignment of your feet and support your arches.


5. Relieve Inflammation


If your flat feet cause inflammation or pain, you can get it under control using over-the-counter nonsteroidal inflammation medications (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen. You can also apply ice packs for up to 20 minutes at a time, 3 or 4 times daily.


Photo by Dids: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-woman-wearing-floral-stockings-1666600/


Photo Gallery

Comments