The causes of flat feet are varied. Some inherit the condition from their parents as an isolated trait, this is particularly true for children with hypermobility or “double jointed”. Others develop flat feet as part of another genetic condition. Still others develop the condition over time.
Everyone has flat feet at birth. By age 6, arches typically form. Sometimes, flat feet (or fallen arches) appear during the teen or adult years. You may have pain and difficulty walking.
Flatfeet can occur when the arches don't develop during childhood. It can also develop later in life after an injury or from the simple wear-and-tear stresses of age.
In adults, flat feet usually remain permanently flat. Treatment usually addresses the symptoms rather than a cure. In adults the condition is called "acquired" flatfoot because it affects feet that at one point in time had a normal longitudinal arch. The deformity may worsen over time as one ages.
At first, all babies' feet look flat because an arch hasn't formed yet. Arches should form by the time a child is 2 or 3 years of age. Flat feet, even in older children, usually do not cause any problems.
Those with flat feet are not suited to marching - they can sustain spinal damage.
Anything more than brief interludes of walking or running barefoot on hard surfaces can lead to a greater risk of impaired foot function. Our feet come from the factory equipped with arches, and those arches vitally need support. Walking barefoot on hard surfaces can lead toward collapsed arches and flat feet.
Flatfoot is a condition in which the arch of the foot is depressed and the sole of the foot is almost completely in contact with the ground. About 20-30% of the population generally has flat feet because their arches never formed during growth.
Celebrities with flat feet include Usain Bolt and Angelina Jolie. Usain Bolt has won multiple Olympic Games with flat feet. Angelina Jolie also has flat feet and continues to lead a productive and successful career while working on her health.
Causes of flat feet
Here are a couple of causes as to why your feet—or those of your children are flat: It is a genetic birth defect. The child is simply born with flat feet. The posterior tibial tendon may be inflamed or damaged.
The longer answer is that flat feet aren't bad, but they can sometimes be painful. Having flat feet, or fallen arches as they are sometimes called, can cause inflammation, foot fatigue, pain in your knees, hips or lower back, shin splints, plantar fasciitis and a number of other symptoms.
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Flat feet can pose problems for some, but most who were born with or even developed the condition over time lead healthy productive lives without the need for invasive treatment.
Flat feet are commonly associated with genetic disorders that first develop in childhood, including: Calcaneovalgus (excessive bowing of the calf bone) Congenital vertical talus (congenital flat foot)6. Dyspraxia (developmental coordination disorder)
However, the difference in biomechanical function of the foot between groups of different ethnic descents can not only be a result of shoes. Dunn et al. [16] reported that flat feet are more common in shod African Americans compared to shod non-Hispanics white and shod Puerto Ricans [16].
Despite the many disadvantages, it might be the case that some incidences of flat feet could improve the absorption of shocks. If you are a swimmer, flat feet may also be very helpful because they can act as a kind of flipper. Flat feet, of course, are not entirely advantageous.
What the study suggests is that race does seem to play a role in who is afflicted with certain foot disorders. But clearly, common foot disorders such as flat feet, bunions, hammertoes, and corns are going to affect people across the entire population, regardless of race.
In very severe cases, flat feet can be corrected surgically to raise the arch or fix the associated problems, says Sutera. But that's rare—most people function just fine without it.
In other words, participants with flatfeet have the same jumping capability as participants with normal feet. The present study controlled for the effect of body size and there was no relationship between foot arch height and jump height.
Men and women with flat feet should generally avoid shoes that offer little to no arch support, such as flip flops, shoes with thin or flat soles, and certain types of high heels.
Walking barefoot at home for an extended amount of time can result in the development of foot deformities, this is from the imbalances in pressure that happen when you walk barefoot. Wearing socks at home alleviates this as it provides a cushion effect to improve your balance, when walking.
Because flat feet cause your weight to be distributed abnormally, other joints and muscles take responsibility for keeping you upright. As a result, you may experience back and leg pain that can interfere with daily tasks, exercise, and activities you enjoy.
To start, Usain Bolt, the greatest sprinter of all time, is flat-footed. There are many professional basketball players and countless athletes/sprinters who are flat-footed and do incredibly well in the sports they play.