Flat Feet - Symptom, Causes, Treatment of Flat Feet

Flat Feet condition in which the arch on the inside of each foot is lower than normal. In extreme cases the arch flattens right out and the entire sole of the foot touches the ground. All children have flat feet for a year or two after they start to walk, but most will have well-developed arches by puberty. Persistent flat feet may be caused by congenital looseness or weakness of the ligaments that maintain the arch, or stretching of, or injury to, these ligaments.

It used to be thought that having an unusually low arch was a health problem that could cause walking difficulties, bad posture, and a greater risk of arthritis in the legs, hips ot spine in later life. People with flat feet were excluded from the army. for example. What was judged as 'normal' or 'low' was very arbitrary, and it seems that many people were wrongly labelled in the past.

Feet come in all shapes and sizes. We now know that most arch shapes are within the normal range of variation, and only the extremely low or extremely high arch is likely to cause problems with gait, posture or arthritis. A very high arch is worse than a very low one because it is inflexible and thus a poor shock absorber if you have feet that look flat but don't bother you, there is no reason to think of them as a problem. If you have low arches that seem to be causing trouble, see a podiatrist or your doctor.

A particular type of flat foot can develop in middle age if the tendon of a powerful muscle in the calf stretches or ruptures. The tendon passes,behind the inner bony prominence of the ankle and istethered to one of the small ankle bones. Damage to this tendon (usually from wear and tear) flattens the arch - suddenly in cases of rupture - and makes the foot turn outwards. As well as the deformity, symptoms include ankle weakness and instability, and sometimes foot pain. This kind of flat foot benefits from orthopaedic treatment. including shoe modification and various supports to correct foot alignment. Occasionally surgery to repair the tendon is needed.

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