What is Flat Feet?
Flat feet is a common condition in which the arches on the inside of the feet flatten when pressure is put on them, resulting in little to no arch in the sole. This may happen from childhood or your feet may have lost their natural arches due to a medical condition. Flat feet can cause pain or other problems with walking.
The arches of your feet are made of bones and connective tissue, and play an important role in the mechanics of walking upright. They have the following function:
- Acting as a springboard and shock absorber
- Store and release energy as you walk
- Adapt your feet to uneven walking surfaces
- Protect nerves and vessels in the soles of your feet
What symptoms do Flat Feet have?
Flat feet does not always cause symptoms but they can affect the way you walk. If symptoms do happen, you may experience:
- Feet pain, particularly in the heel or arch area
- Swelling along the inside of the ankle
- Pain along the shin bone
- Pain in your hips and lower back
Over time, you may develop the following symptoms:
- Chronic pain even when not walking
- Deformities like bunions or hammertoes
- Changes to your gait
What causes Flat Feet?
Some flat feet are congenital while others may happen later in life after your arches have formed normally. This is called progressive collapsing foot deformity, or "fallen arches". An arch collapse can happen slowly or rapidly due to injuries and diseases. Some of these condition include:
- Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction: The most common cause of arch collapse. Chronic tendonitis may weaken this important tendon until it breaks down and can no longer support your arch.
- Diabetes-related nerve damage: It can lead to the breakdown of bones in your feet and compromise the supporting ligaments in them, leading to arch collapse.
- Arthritis: Degenerative and inflammatory types of arthritis can cause swelling and deformity in the joints of your feet.
- Injury: Foot fractures or injuries to the ligaments in your feet may affect their arch support.
What are the risk factors of Flat Feet?
Factors that can increase your risk of flatfoot include:
- Obesity
- Injury to the foot or ankle
- Arthritis
- Ageing
- Diabetes
How do you manage Flat Feet?
If flat feet causes you minor pain, you may try the following:
- Rest: Avoid high-impact activities that may aggravate the condition. Instead, participate in low-impact activities such as walking, biking, or swimming, rather than jumping or running activities.
- Arch supports: Arch supports may increase your comfort while moving around
- Medications: Pain relievers such as ibuprofen may help
- Weight loss: Excess weight can increase pressure placed on the feet. Losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce stress on the feet.
How is Flat Feet diagnosed?
Imaging Tests
Imaging tests of the foot are done with ultrasound, x-ray or CT scan to determine the cause of foot pain.
