Flat Feet: Low Arches Can Cause Foot Problems

What does it mean to have flat feet?

A flat foot occurs when the arch of the foot collapses. The result is that the arch is at the same level as the heels and balls of your feet. Flat feet are relatively common and most people live with them without experiencing pain or discomfort. For others, however, having flat feet causes a number of foot problems, such as foot and leg pain, calf and ankle pain, and swelling ankles. More extreme symptoms include bunions, calluses, shin splints, inflammation, tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis. To figure out if you have flat feet, dip your foot in water. Then step on a piece of colored construction paper and evaluate what you see. You will see a strip that connects the front of the foot to the heel of the foot. If the strip is half the width as the front of your foot on the paper, your arches are normal. If the strip is close to the same width as the front of the foot, you have flat feet.

Why do I have flat feet?

The tendon that forms the arch may weaken over time causing the arch to collapse. Flat feet may also be associated with pronation, a leaning inward of the anklebones toward the centerline. This means that while walking, the foot has a tendency to come down on its inner margin. A foot injury may also be the culprit of fallen foot arches. Other factors to consider are disease, age, pregnancy, and obesity, In children, fallen arches may be caused by tarsal coalition, a condition that fuses two or more of the bones in the foot together resulting in flat feet. Flat feet are normal in toddlers and infants because they are still in the early growing stages.

How can I treat flat feet?

There are two types of flat feet. If you have flexible flat feet, then there is little to no pain and there is no need for treatment. That is because flexible flat feet have some type of arch. This is a normal condition. Having inflexible feet is abnormal and is an indication of a foot disease, injury or bone deformity. Your doctor will provide several options for dealing with flat feet including ankle braces, medication, surgery, or shoe arches and inserts. Known as orthotics, shoe arches provide support by molding to the contours of your feet. If your flat feet hurt or are causing you pain, see a doctor.