Flat feet can cause discomfort and may predispose you to other foot and ankle conditions, including muscle imbalances and chronic pain. To determine if you have flat feet and get treatment, if needed, visit Healthy Step Podiatry in Midtown East and the Financial District of New York City. The podiatry experts, Vito La Puma, DPM, provide reliable and effective conservative and surgical solutions for flat feet. Schedule a consultation today by calling or booking online.
What are flat feet?
Different types of flat feet exist, but all share the same characteristic of a partial or total collapse of the arch of the foot. This is sometimes called a fallen or broken arch. Flat feet can begin in childhood or it may develop over time due to trauma, biomechanical issues, or muscle imbalances in the foot and ankle.
Flat feet can also cause other foot and ankle issues, including Achilles tendinitis, hammertoes, and bunions.
What are the signs of flat feet?
A simple test you can perform to determine if you might have flat feet is slipping your fingers underneath the arch of your foot while you’re standing. If you can’t slide your fingers under your arch, you may have flat feet. For a definitive diagnosis, see the team at Healthy Step Podiatry.
Other symptoms you may experience along with flat feet include:
- Pain in the heel, arch, ankle, or along the outside of the foot
- A rolled-in ankle, also called overpronation
- Pain along the shin bone or shin splints
- General aching or fatigue in the foot or leg
- Low back, hip, or knee pain
Flat feet can also present with the heel rolling inward and the toes rolling or pointing outward.
What causes flat feet?
In most cases of flat feet, the condition is caused by ligament laxity — or excessive flexibility — that doesn’t allow for proper support of the joints that make up the arch of your foot. Instead, these ligaments become overstretched and allow the bones of your foot to drop downward, resulting in a flattening of your arch.
You may be born with flat feet or they may develop over time. Trauma, including fractures and dislocations, can also cause flat feet. Rigid flat feet may also develop in people over the age of 40 who are overweight and sedentary throughout the day.
What is the treatment for flat feet?
In order to recommend the best treatment for you, the team first examines your feet and takes X-rays to determine the extent of deformity in your feet. Flexible flat feet present with an arch when you’re not weight bearing, while rigid flat feet always lack an arch.
Depending on the type and severity of your flat feet, the team may recommend physical therapy, at-home exercises, orthotics, or bracing to support your arches. Severe cases with pain may require surgery to correct the deformity, such as the implanting the Subtalar MBA® support from Integra®.
Find out what to do if you have flat feet by scheduling a visit online or calling Healthy Step Podiatry now.