![]() ![]() ![]() Diabetes: Neuropathy, a complication of diabetes, can cause muscle weakness leading to the development of flat feet.Inappropriate Footwear: Prolonged use of high heels or shoes without proper arch support can lead to flat feet over time.Arthritis: Inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis can contribute to the development of flat feet.Ĭertain causes of flat feet may come as a surprise as they aren't commonly associated with this condition:.Injury: Damage to the muscles, tendons, or bones in the feet can cause flat feet.Pregnancy: Hormonal changes during pregnancy can loosen ligaments and result in flat feet.Obesity: Increased body weight can put excessive pressure on the arches and lead to their collapse.Aging: As individuals age, muscles and tendons can lose their properties, leading to fallen arches.Alternatively, it can develop over time due to a variety of reasons such as: Each case differs depending on the patient’s condition and severity.įor more information on flat feet or how to get relief with this condition, please contact our office today.Flat feet can be a congenital condition, meaning individuals are born with it. An orthopedic surgeon may create arches in your foot, repair tendons, or fuse bones and joints together to gain function back to your feet. In severe cases, surgery may be recommended, but it is often used as a last resort. Lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise to manage weight and reduce the amount of pressure on your feet.Wearing appropriate footwear with adequate arch support.This will help to strengthen ligaments, tendons, and muscles of the foot and ankle Physical therapy can help when foot pain is due to an injury.Performing stretches to keep the muscles and tendons flexible.Braces and support may also be fitted to you Custom arch supports, or orthotics, to take the pressure off your arches and provide cushioning support.Medication to reduce swelling and inflammation and alleviate pain.However, if you do experience pain, your podiatrist will recommend treatment for you to reduce pain and discomfort. TreatmentĪs mentioned above, if you aren’t experiencing any pain or other symptoms, treatment is often not required. Other tests, such as a gait test, may also be done to see the extent of the condition and evaluate other contributing factors of the patient’s flat foot. X-rays and other imaging tests may be performed to evaluate the extent of the deformity and the condition of the tissues, muscles, and bone of the foot. For those who seek relief, scheduling an appointment with a podiatrist can provide you with a proper diagnosis and treatment plan to relieve you of pain and discomfort.Ī podiatrist will conduct a clinical examination and request a detailed medical history. If you aren’t experiencing any pain or other symptoms, treatment is often not required. Pain along arches after standing or walking for extended periods.Associated deformities such as bunions or hammertoes. ![]() Pain or discomfort in the foot, leg, or lower back.The most common symptom is pain felt in the arch, heel, foot, and ankle. However, this is not the case for all patients. SymptomsĪ large number of people with flat feet may not experience any pain or symptoms and will not need treatment. Other causes can include heredity, tight tendons, arthritis, diabetes, excess weight, overuse, strain, and age. Injury and trauma can also cause abnormalities in the tendons, ligaments, and muscles of the foot and ankle, resulting in a flat foot. People with severely overpronated feet are predisposed to developing a rigid flat foot. Flat feet are common in young children, but as their body grows, the arch and the muscles supporting it strengthen and will become a normal arch by adulthood. Many patients who have a flat foot were born with a flexible flat foot that didn’t fully develop with age. A rigid flat foot means that the arch is flat while supporting weight and also when relaxed. A flexible flat foot means the arches give way when the foot supports the body but regains an arch once the foot is relaxed. There are two general types of flat feet, flexible and rigid. This is known as pronation, and the degree of pronation varies from patient to patient. Most people have a degree of arch support in the foot that acts like a shock absorber while walking or standing. The lack of an arch characterizes a flat foot, meaning the arches have collapsed, and the entire sole touches the floor while standing or walking. It can occur on one foot or both and develop from a variety of causes. Flat feet, also referred to as overpronated feet or fallen arches is a common postural deformity with various degrees of physical impact. ![]()
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