What is meant by Flat Foot?
A person with Flat Foot, also known as pes planus, has a lowered or flattened out longitudinal arch, which runs lengthwise along the sole of the foot, because it has not developed normally. Affected feet could be one or both. when you stand up, the entire soles of your feet touch the floor due to the flattening of the arches on the inside.
Flat feet are a common, usually painless condition that can occur when the arches fail to form during childhood. In other situations, flat feet result from an injury or from the normal aging-related wear-and-tear stresses. Flat feet can lead to problems with your ankles, knees, and ankle muscles because they can alter the way your legs align. For flat feet, there is typically no need for treatment if you are not in pain.
Types of Flat Foot:
Whether they develop in adulthood or continue into childhood, flat feet can be challenging.
Among the varieties of flat foot are;
Rigid
- When standing or sitting, a person with rigid flat feet does not have arches because they are not supporting any weight on their feet.
- This illness typically starts in youth and worsens with age.
- It could hurt to walk on your feet.
- Flexing the feet up or down or side to side can be challenging.
Flexible
- Flexible feet are common types of flat feet.
- The arches in the feet are visible when you are not standing.
- When you place weight on the feet, the arches vanish.
- During childhood or teenage years, a flexible flat foot develops.
- With age, it progressively worsens and affects both feet.
- In the foot arches, there is a risk of tearing, swelling, and stretching of the ligaments and tendons.
Developed by adults (fallen arch)
- The foot’s arch suddenly collapses or collapses when an adult develops a flat foot (fallen arch).
- When the arch collapses, the foot turns outward, which can cause pain.
- The problem might affect only one foot.
- Inflammation or a tear in the leg tendon supporting the arch (posterior tibial tendon) is the most frequent cause.
An vertical talus
- A birth defect known as vertical talus, which is a congenital disability, keeps some babies from developing arches.
- In the incorrect position is the talus bone in the ankle.
- The base of the foot is similar to the back of a rocking chair.
- It is also known as rocker-bottom foot or vertical talus.
Causes of Flat Foot :
The lack of a developed arch in the feet of young children often results in flat feet. While some people never develop arches, the majority of people’s arches develop throughout childhood. Individuals without arches might experience issues or not. There are children who have flat feet that vanish when they stand, or what is known as flexible flat feet. This condition causes the child’s arch to show when they sit or stand on their feet. Most kids grow out of flexible flat feet without any issues.
The illness can also strike those who do not have flat feet. Following an injury, arches may suddenly collapse Or years of wear and tear could cause the collapse. The tendon that runs along the inside of the ankle and supports the arch can weaken or tear with time. . As the condition gets worse, arthritis may form in the foot.
Signs and symptoms:
For the most part, flat feet are symptomless. But foot pain, especially in the heel or arch region, can happen in some flat foot sufferers. Activities may make pain worse. On the inside of the ankle, swelling could happen.
The following symptoms could be present;
- Cramping in the legs.
- Foot or leg muscle pain (fatigue or aching).
- Heel Pain
- Walking pain or changes in your gait.
- The front of the foot and the toes point outward when toe slide happens.
Risk factors:
The following individuals were primarily impacted , Various factors can raise your chance of developing flat feet;
- Flat foot (pes planus)
- Obesity
- Injury to your foot or ankle
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Aging
- Diabetes
Diagnosis:
Your doctor will ask you to stand on your toes and examine your feet from the front and back in order to view the mechanics of your feet.
Imaging examinations:
In the event that your foot pain is severe, your physician might prescribe tests like these;
X-rays
- A standard X-ray creates images of your feet’s bones and joints using a minimal amount of radiation. It’s especially helpful in the diagnosis of arthritis.
CT scan
This examination obtains X-rays of your foot from various view points and provides far more information than a typical X-ray.
Ultrasound
This test, which creates finely detailed images of the body’s soft tissues using sound waves, might be ordered by your doctor if they think you have a tendon injury.
MRI
MRIs offer outstanding detail of both soft and hard tissues because they use radio waves and a powerful magnet.
Treatment:
A large number of people with flat feet are not severely ill or require medical attention. In the event that you suffer from foot pain, stiffness, or other problems, your doctor might suggest nonsurgical treatments. Surgery is rarely necessary to correct stiff, flat feet or issues with bones or tendons.
If a child’s flat feet are not causing pain or causing walking issues, there is no need to treat them.
- With or without special shoes, shoe inserts, heel cups, or wedges, your child’s feet will grow and develop in the same way.
- Without aggravating their flat feet, your child is free to run, jump, walk barefoot, and engage in any other activity.
Flexible flat feet that don’t hurt or interfere with walking in older kids and adults don’t require additional care.
If you are experiencing pain from your flexible flat feet, the following may be of help in;
- To reduce pain and inflammation, apply ice packs, rest, and anti-inflammatory medications such as or NSAIDs.
- Through the strengthening and stretching of tense muscles and tendons, physiotherapy can improve range of motion and flexibility.
- Supportive equipment, such as custom shoes, foot orthotics, and leg or foot braces.
Lifestyle and natural remedies:
- Rest
Remain away from activities that exacerbate the illness. Instead of jumping and running, engage in low-impact activities like biking, swimming, or walking.
- Support arches
You may feel more comfortable with arch supports that are available without a prescription.
- Medications
Over-the-counter pain relievers like naproxen sodium (Aleve) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, and others) may be helpful.
- Reduced weight
Foot stress can be decreased by losing weight.
Surgery:
- Not all surgeries are performed to treat flat feet.
- When nonsurgical treatments fail to relieve a patient’s pain to the point where it still interferes with their activities, surgery may become necessary.
- The bone and tendon issues that are causing the pain can be fixed surgically.
Complications:
Flat feet may cause or exacerbate symptoms for people with other foot, ankle, or lower leg issues.
As examples, consider;
- Bunions
- Hammer toe
- Plantar fasciitis
- Achilles tendonitis
- Posterior tibial tendonitis
- Shin splints
Prognosis:
The majority of flat foot cases are painless and have no side effects. They won’t require medical attention.
Certain causes of painful flat feet can be treated without surgery. In certain situations, surgery may be required to relieve pain if alternative therapies are unsuccessful. Surgery may be necessary to correct certain conditions, like tarsal coalition, in order to preserve the flexibility of the foot.
Foot function and pain are frequently improved for those who need surgery.
Summary:
A postural deformity known as flat feet, also known as pes planus or fallen arches, occurs when the foot’s arches collapse and the entire sole makes full or nearly complete contact with the ground. Congenital (born without a foot) flattening occurs occasionally.
FAQ:
Is it possible to treat a flat foot?
Stretching exercises, orthoses (shoe inserts), and supportive footwear are effective in most cases in managing the symptoms. If conservative measures fail to improve the patient’s condition, surgery might be considered.
Is having flat feet a major issue?
When a person stands, walks, or runs, their body alignment may be impacted by flat feet. Therefore, the chance of experiencing hip, knee, and ankle pain can be elevated by having flat feet.
How common is a flat foot?
Families usually experience flat feet, which are common, painless, and recurring. The alignment of the body may be impacted by flat feet, which may result in discomfort in the knees and ankles. There is no need for treatment if the flat feet are not painful.
Is there a natural way to cure flat feet?
Natural treatments can lessen the symptoms of flat feet, but they cannot cure the condition. It’s crucial to understand that receiving a diagnosis of flat feet does not always entail surgery for reconstruction. Many people don’t feel any pain or discomfort while they have flat feet.
What would happen if you didn’t correct your flat feet?
Another factor contributing to the unequal distribution of body weight is flat feet. More injuries may arise if this causes shoes to wear down unevenly or more quickly than usual, especially on one side. Walking and running may be difficult for some people.
What safety measures are there for flat foot?
Typically, flatfoot is not a major issue. However, weight gain and prolonged standing can cause pain for some people. Walking and running can cause pain as well. To help support your feet, you can perform exercises, use orthotics, and buy roomy shoes.
Are flat feet more painful?
However, some flatfoot sufferers have foot pain, especially in the arch or heel. Activity may make the pain worse. There could be swelling on the inside of the ankle.
Can poor posture result from flat feet?
Your entire “biomechanics chain” may become unbalanced as a result of flat or highly arched feet, a posture issue. Depending on where your feet are placed, your legs and knees change how they distribute pressure and weight.
What is the truth regarding individuals with flat feet?
In those who have flat feet, the entire sole of the foot touches the floor and the feet point outward when they stand. It could also result from an injury suffered later in life or from normal wear and tear associated with aging.
Can someone with flat feet benefit from going barefoot?
Walking barefoot is the first (and simplest) exercise you can include into your routine. Whether you’re at home or at the beach, you can just take off your shoes or slippers and go for a walk. It’s a fantastic method to retrain your arches and strengthen your lower legs, ankles, and feet.
Does having flat feet impact an individual’s balance?
Problems may appear here even though there are no arches to provide support. People who have flat feet are more likely to struggle with muscle imbalances in their ankles, hips, and legs. This condition may make balance problems worse and even cause lower back pain.
What issues can flat feet cause?
While many people with flat feet don’t experience any adverse effects, others aren’t as fortunate. In addition to being uncomfortable, flat feet can cause foot deformities and instability in the ankle. Moving becomes an actual inconvenience if the illness limits or makes your gait, or the way you walk, awkward.
For flat foot, what are the precautions?
In general, flat feet are not very problematic. However, some people do feel pain if they gain weight or stand up a lot. Moreover, walking and running may cause you pain. Wearing roomy shoes and pads, as well as exercising, can help with foot support.
With flat feet, is it possible to lead a normal life?
In the same way, many adults have flat feet and manage just fine with their day-to-day activities, such as engaging in physical labor and sports. They should wear supportive, soft shoes just like everyone else.
References:
- Flat Foot: Cause, Symptoms, Treatment, Physiotherapy Exercise. Mobile Physiotherapy Clinic. May 29, 2023. Physiotherapist, N. P.
- Mayo Clinic. (2022, August 16). Flatfeet – Symptoms and Causes. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/flatfeet/symptoms-causes/syc-20372604#:~:text=When%20people%20with%20flatfeet%20stand,and%2Dtear%20stresses%20of%20age$.
- Expert, C. C. M. (n.d.-d). The Cleveland Clinic describes flat feet at https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17005-flat-feet.
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (n.d.) describes flat feet. MedicallinePlus.gov/ency/article/001262.htm#:~:text=Flat feet are a common shoe size, ranging from 2 to 3 years old.
- Image 1, 2024b, January 3; doctormmdev. child-sized flat feet. Subsequent Step Podiatry Clinic. Don’t worry, kids with flat feet! https://www.nextstepfoot.com/
- Image 2, On February 5, 2021, Miller, S. Could My Foot Pain Be Coming From My Flat Feet? | Cardin & Miller PT. Cardin & Miller. Foot pain caused by flat feet: https://cardinmillerpt.com/
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