Are your feet flat?

Do you notice your feet are as flat as a pancake when you walk? Does it seem like the only arch you see is at your local McDonalds? The more important question is, are your flat feet painful? Many people notice that they have flat feet, but never have any pain. As our flat-footed friends age, their feet oftentimes become painful. What is the root cause of all these flat feet?

Flat feet areoften be called by another term, known as pronation. Pronation is described as when the arch collapses during weight bearing, and the inside of the ankle seems to roll towards the ground. Pronation can be from a flexible flat foot, when the arch collapses as the foot hits the ground, or a rigid or structural flat foot, which stays flat no matter what stress the foot encounters.
There are many causes of flat feet. Some include obesity, pregnancy and repeated pounding ones feet against hard surfaces. If a close relative has flat feet the odds are good that you may develop this condition! There also is a higher association of developing flat feet if you have rheumatoid arthritis. Some other causes besides a congenital abnormality (something you’re born with) are a bone fractures or dislocations, torn or stretched tendon s, or neurologic weakness.

Flat feet can present differently in children and adults. In kids, flat foot usually presents as flexible or hypermobile flat foot. This condition is rarely painful. The prudent podiatrist may recommend custom molded orthtics to support the arches as their feet grow. If the Achilles tendon (along the back of the foot/lower leg) is tight, then this foot type can become problematic. Children very rarely a have a rigid flat foot, which is usually from a coalition (bones that do not move and are fused together). Adult acquired flat foot is usually more of a progressive deformity. The tendon on the inside of your ankle, the posterior tibial tendon, that goes into the foot weakens and sometimes even tears resulting in severe pain and total collapse of the arch.

What type of symptoms will you experience? Your feet can become painful when standing for long periods, or they may tire easily, with pain in the arch or heel. Oftentimes there is a chance of swelling in these areas. You may experience difficulty with moving your feet or heels. Sometimes difficulty or pain develops when you try to stand on your toes.

What type of treatments can be done? There are several methods of conservative treatment that can be implemented. To begin with your doctor will probably start with shoe modifications and custom molded orthotics, designed specifically to your feet, and non-steroidal inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen. Corticosteroids can also be injected into painful joints, along with rest, ice decreasedactivity, short leg casts, and custom designed ankle support braces. Depending on the severity and type of flatfoot you have, your doctor may put you on a stretching regimen for to lengthen your tight Achilles Tendon/Gastrocnemius (calf muscles). If the above treatments are ineffective,a course of physical may be indicated. When conservative measures have failed surgical intervention may be necessary. Some of the surgical procedures that can be performed include an arthrodesis (fusion of the major moving joints of the feet to correct the position of the foot/arch), osteotomy (cutting, shifting and /or reshaping a bone for better alignment), and/or tendon transfer (where a tendon in the foot/ankle is transferred to another area of the foot. The podiatric surgeon may also want to lengthen your Achilles tendon/calf muscles sometimes using several very small incisions.
If your feet are flat as a board, and causing you pain, make sure to consult your podiatrist. He or she will be able to properly diagnose this condition, and other foot/ankle ailments may be causing your pain. Pain free feet are happy feet so make sure you keep your feet happy throughout the summer months!

The purpose of this blog is to raise awareness about common conditions associated with the foot and ankle. Any advice given, whether medical or legal, is an opinion. For legal counsel or podiatric care, one should see their local podiatrist or attorney. More information can be found at my website www.michiganfootdoctor.com