Is There a Treatment for Flat Feet?

Do you think you might have flat feet and are looking for more information? It is simple — if the arches on the inside part of your feet are flat, you have flat feet. This leads to the entire sole of a person's feet touching the ground when they stand up. Flat feet can be a result of a person's arches not developing properly early on, or it can be caused by an injury or wear and tear as a person ages.

Flat feet can add to issues with the knees and ankles as the condition alters the alignment of a person's legs. People with flat feet often do not have any additional symptoms besides their feet being flat. Some do experience foot pain around their arches or heels, and the pain might be worse on high activity days.

FLAT FEET IN CHILDREN

Having flat feet is perfectly normal for babies and infants. The arch of each foot is normally not yet developed at that point. There are also people who never develop arches but do not have any issues with their feet.

There are also children who have flexible flat feet. The arch is visible when the child's feet are elevated, but they disappear when weight is put on them. Most people with this condition eventually outgrow it.

A child's foot arch can also become flat as a result of wear and tear. This usually occurs when the tendon that connects the ankles to the arches needs additional support.

THINGS THAT MAKE DEVELOPING FLAT FEET MORE LIKELY

Factors that increase a person's risk of developing flat feet include:

Foot and ankle injuries
Obesity
Arthritis
Diabetes
Aging

HOW FLAT FEET ARE TREATED

The first thing the doctor will do is examine the patient's feet. The doctor might also look at the wear pattern on the person's shoes. Imaging tests like x-rays, CT scans and MRIs might also be used to help make a diagnosis.

If the person's flat feet do not cause any pain, treatment is not necessary.

Treatment options for flat feet include:

ARCH SUPPORTS

There are different types of arch supports that can be purchased at drug stores. These can help to relieve the pain caused by flat feet, but for best results, doctors recommend going with custom-made supports. Using one of these supports will not cure flat feet, but it does make it easier to live with it.

STRETCHING EXERCISES

Stretching exercises can be used to stretch the Achilles tendon.

SUPPORTIVE SHOES

These are special shoes that are designed to be kinder on flat feet.

PHYSICAL THERAPY

Flat feet increase the odds of a person becoming injured while running or walking. Physical therapy can be used to reduce the odds of injury.

SURGERY

There are surgical procedures which help reconstruct the foot's arches and restore functionality as well as provide pain relief.

GET RELIEF FOR YOUR FLAT FEET

If you are one of the many people with flat feet, we invite you to contact our clinic today to explore the many things we can do to make your life easier.

REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT HERE: https://footdoctorinsanjose.com OR CALL LEONARD GREENWALD, D.P.M. AT (408) 827-9483 FOR AN APPOINTMENT IN OUR SAN JOSE OFFICE.

Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.