Flat feet, also known as fallen arches, may seem like no big deal, but they can lead to problems for your knees, ankles, and feet in many cases if left untreated. Flat feet are normal in infants and toddlers, due to the fact that the arch has yet to develop, but it actually will fail to develop in one or both feet in some twenty to thirty percent of the population. Flat feet can be caused as the arches fall with the passage of time, as well as being the result of obesity, foot injuries, arthritis, and diabetes.
The human foot is comprised of some twenty-six bones, thirty-three joints and well over one hundred muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The job of the arch is to help distribute your weight across the feet and legs. They also serve in providing proper mobility, and need to be flexible. Fallen arches are often an inherited condition, but adults with normal arches can see them deteriorate over time. The weakening of a tendon called the posterior tibial tendon, which is found along the inner part of the ankle, precipitates flat feet, as the tendon is the major supporting structure of the arch. Overwork and wear and tear on this tendon can cause swelling and tearing, and once the damage is done, the arch can flatten out. Wearing high heels for long periods of time is a common cause of flat feet among women.
The symptoms of flat feet are easy enough to spot- one foot looks flatter than the other, there is pain in the lower leg, pain on the inside of your ankle, swelling in the same region, and foot pain- all possible indications of flat feet. A good test for flat feet can be done in the summer when you emerge from a swimming pool. Observe your footprints, especially if you are on cement. The front of the foot is joined to the heel by a strip. With fallen arches, this strip will be the same width as the front of the foot. A healthy and normal arch will leave a footprint with the strip being only half as wide as the front of the foot; a very high arch will leave just a very thin strip connecting the front to the back.
If you feel pain in one foot, to insure that it is not the result of flat feet, place your fingertips on a wall right in front of you. Attempt to stand on your tiptoes. If you cannot, flat feet could be why. Or you can stand with your feet parallel and have someone directly in back of you look at your feet. With normal feet, that individual should only be able to see your pinky toe from such a vantage point. On flat feet, the fourth and even the third toe can be observed. A final test is to take off your shoes and place them on a flat table. Look at them from behind at eye level. The sole should be worn evenly if you do not have flat feet, as flat feet will cause more wear on the inside of the sole. The shoe of someone with flat feet will rock from side to side on a flat surface.
Your physician will use tests a bit more advanced than these, including X-rays or perhaps an MRI if the situation warrants it. Many with flat feet feel no ill effects from the condition, but in others, it can result or make even worse such problems as inflammation and discomfort in the ligaments of the sole, tendonitis in the Achilles tendon and posterior tibial tendon, shin splints, calluses and bunions, and even stress fracture in the lower regions of the leg. The body's alignment can be skewed due to flat feet, and this can have an adverse effect on the ankles, knees, and hips. Sometimes the person with flat feet will find that their lower legs have aligned in such a way with their feet that there is no trouble.
There are a number of methods to treat flat feet, starting with over-the-counter arch supports and insoles. Your doctor will let you know if these are the answer, or if you need custom-made arch supports, which are known as foot orthotics. They are specially molded to fit your foot's specific shape, and they come in rigid, semi-rigid, and soft. Simple rest may be the answer to alleviate the pain from flat feet, and pain relievers can also provide a break from the discomfort. Overweight individuals putting excess stress on their feet will be told to lose some weight to lighten the burden on their arches. Tendonitis in the posterior tibial tendon can require a wedge placed along the inside edge of the orthotic, and ankle braces or a walking boot may do the trick as well. Only in extremely severe instances of flat feet will surgery ever be an option.