Flat Feet Specialist

What are flat feet?

If you have flat feet, it means that the bottom of at least one of your feet lies flat on the ground. Flat feet occur for a variety of causes, and symptoms vary depending on the severity of your condition.

Generally, people with flat feet don’t exhibit any symptoms, though sometimes flat feet can cause pain and discomfort to your back. Flat feet can also provoke pain in your knees, hips, lower legs, calf, inner ankle, and the arch of your foot.

If you have flat feet, you’ll find that you tend to wear out shoes faster than usual. Flat feet distribute your body weight unevenly, which quickly wears out the heel of your shoe.

What causes flat feet?

The most common cause of flat feet is tarsal coalition, a condition in which the bones of the foot fuse together.

If you struggle with obesity and diabetes, you are likely to develop flat feet over time. Other causes include:

• Foot or ankle injury
• Arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
• Weak arches
• Tibial tendon damage
• Tendinitis
• Cerebral palsy or other nervous system or muscle diseases

Aging may also lead to flat feet. As you age, the posterior tibial tendon in your foot starts to weaken, making it harder to support the arch of your foot.

What are the side effects of flat feet?

In some cases, particularly if you suffer from other health complications, flat feet can cause mild to severe side effects, including:

• Arthritis in the ankle
• Bunions
• Hammertoes
• Shin splints
• Inflammation in the ligament in the soles of your foot
• Tendinitis

Since your feet support your entire body, these side effects might make you walk differently, gradually leading to more pain in other parts of your body, such as the hips, knees, or ankles.

How do you treat flat feet?

If you are experiencing pain, the team at South Florida Foot & Ankle Centers offers various forms of therapy, including:

• Achilles tendon stretching exercises
• Orthotic devices
• Supportive shoes
• Physical therapy
• Surgery

Even if your flat feet aren’t currently causing you pain, it might be worth having the South Florida Foot & Ankle Centers team evaluate them and make sure problems don’t arise in the future.

To get started, call the office today to book an appointment online today.