Flat feet (pes planus) refer to a change in foot shape in which the foot does not have a normal arch when standing.
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.
“Rigid flat foot” is the result of either a birth defect or from an abnormal connection between foot bones (tarsal coalition). This condition can be painful, causing tendon spasms, difficulty moving the foot up and down or side to side, and an inability to perform activities like running and jumping.
Your body's balance begins in the feet; when the feet do not provide proper support, it can raise your risk for joint problems caused by poor posture and unnatural gait. Individuals with flat feet could be more likely to experience injury or pain in the feet, ankles, knees, or hips.
Having flat feet makes it difficult to run or walk because of the stress placed on the ankles. Alignment – The general alignment of your legs can be disrupted, because the ankles move inward which can cause major discomfort.
Those with flat feet are not suited to marching - they can sustain spinal damage.
Bunions, corns, and calluses can all result from flat feet because the condition causes parts of your feet to rub uncomfortably against your shoes, leading to corns and calluses, while overpronation (when your foot flattens and lands on the ground in an imbalanced way), can lead to the development of a bunion.
This condition often develops during the teen years and gets worse with age. Your feet may feel painful. It can be difficult to flex the feet up or down or move them side-to-side. Flatfoot may affect one foot or both.
People who had flat feet as children are at a higher risk of developing adult acquired flatfoot. Also, those with a family history of flatfoot may be more prone to developing the condition.
Treating flat feet using exercises can prove to be a difficult task. Conservative management strategies and exercises to improve flat feet have limitations in rebuilding the arch entirely and rather serve to maintain and support the arch as weight is applied to it. This is usually done in conjunction with orthotics.
If you describe a person or action as flat-footed, you think they are clumsy, awkward, or foolish.
Flat feet in children is fairly common due to the fact that their bones and joints are still extremely flexible. Most children outgrow the condition by age six. Even those who don't outgrow the condition (around 15 percent) don't always require treatment.
When flat feet persist in children after the age of five years and they complain of pain in their feet, treatment with insoles / arch supports is used more often to alleviate discomfort. In rare cases, young teenagers with persisting symptoms may require surgery.
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.
There may be advantages for people who have flat feet. Flat feet are defined as the natural ability the feet have to roll inward, which may be helpful while running or jumping. The structure of the foot can absorb the shock, which may come easier than to people who have high arches.
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].
When you have flat feet, you may find that you get tired easily, especially in your feet. You just can't go as far as your family and friends.
While many people have flat feet and do not experience any negative effects, others may find that they have foot pain, fatigue easily, or have an abnormal walking pattern. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to make living with flat feet more comfortable.
Over time, the tendon that runs along the inside of the ankle and helps support the arch can get weakened or tear. As the severity increases, arthritis may develop in the foot.
If treated soon enough, symptoms may resolve without the need for surgery and progression of the condition can be stopped. If left untreated, PTTD may create an extremely flat foot, painful arthritis in the foot and ankle, and will limit your ability to walk, run, and other activities.
Flat feet, the condition in which the arches in the center of the sole of the foot are absent when the feet are bearing weight, is quite common. Approximately 8% of adults in the United States have congenital flat feet, which occur when the arches fail to form during early childhood.
If flatfeet causes you minor pain, you might want to try: Rest. Avoid activities that aggravate the condition. Participate in low-impact activities — such as walking, biking or swimming — rather than jumping and running activities.
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. Look for shoes that will provide the support you'll need to safely participate in physical activities.
Flat feet may cause foot pain or a dysfunctional walking pattern, but in many cases, they are asymptomatic. High arches are a rarer occurrence where the arches are unusually raised. High arches may cause pain while going about your daily activities and make it harder to find shoes that fit comfortably.