Flat Feet

What are flat feet?

Flat feet are a common and typically painless condition that happens when the arches on the inside of your feet fall flat. This causes the entire sole of your foot to touch the ground when you’re standing.

If you have pain in the ball of your foot, or it feels like you’re standing on a pebble, it may be due to a neuroma. The expert podiatrists at Premier Foot and Ankle Center & Elite Upper Extremity and Plastic Surgery routinely diagnose and treat neuromas. 

There are many types of flat feet. However, the most common type is flexible flat foot, which occurs when the arches of your feet don’t develop as they typically would during childhood. All children have flat feet when they’re born; however, flexible flat foot persists throughout adolescence and into adulthood and often worsens over time.

What causes flat feet?

Flat feet occur when the ligaments in your feet aren’t strong enough to support an arch. Flexible flat foot is a genetic condition present at birth, but adults can also develop flat feet later in life. Some injuries, like a foot fracture, or medical conditions, like arthritis, can cause adult-onset flat feet.

What are the symptoms of flat feet?

Flexible flat foot usually affects both feet. It’s called flexible because the arches only flatten when you’re standing, and they reappear when you’re not bearing weight. Most of the time, flexible flat feet don’t cause any pain or symptoms.

When flat feet do cause symptoms, they may include:

• Pain in the heel, arch, or ankle
• Pain along the shin bone
• Pain in the low back, hips, or knees
• Fatigue in the feet or legs

Flat feet may also cause your ankles to roll inward, a condition called overpronation.

How is flat foot diagnosed and treated?

To diagnose flat feet, your podiatrist carefully evaluates your foot structure and function. They may also evaluate the wear pattern on the bottom of your shoes for signs of overpronation or take imaging tests, like an X-ray or ultrasound.

Then, your podiatrist recommends the best treatment plan for your specific needs. Depending on your condition’s severity, treatment for flat feet may include switching to more supportive shoes or wearing custom orthotics.

Your podiatrist evaluates your feet for custom orthotics at Premier Foot and Ankle Center & Elite Upper Extremity and Plastic Surgery. Then, they send your information out to have the orthotics made off-site, and you pick them up when they’re ready.

If your flat foot is due to an injury, like a tendon tear, your provider may recommend surgery.

For expert treatment for flat feet, call Premier Foot and Ankle Center & Elite Upper Extremity and Plastic Surgery, or book an appointment online today.