Flat feet

Flat Feet

What are flat feet?

Flat feet is the lack of the usual level of arch in the foot due to the tendons in the area being loose. It is a common pathology, especially in children. There are two types: flexible flatfoot, one of the most common, and rigid flatfoot, which has no arch under any circumstances. On the contrary, in the flexible flat foot this is only when the person rests it on the ground, but when lifting it the arch is formed again.

What are the symptoms?

In general, flat feet do not cause pain when walking or making any movement. Until after two years of age, the presence of alterations cannot be detected because until then the child’s foot has adipose tissue, i.e. fat, on the sole of the foot. It should be noted that sometimes flatfoot pain is caused by a condition in which two or more bones of the foot grow together or fuse, the so-called tarsal coalition. In adults, the appearance of flat feet arises after prolonged periods of overusing the foot or playing sports.

Causes of flat feet or why they occur

The causes of this condition, which is not detected until the age of two, can be hereditary or caused by aging, tendon injuries or disease. In the case of hereditary, conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos or Marfan syndrome cause a person to be born with flat feet. It is rare for two or more bones of the foot to grow together or fuse.

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Can it be prevented?

One of the first measures to be taken is to always wear a wide, comfortable and flexible shoe that is well ventilated and has good adherence to the ground to avoid the development of flat feet. In addition, there are exercises to optimize the development of the feet: walking on tiptoe, walking barefoot on uneven ground or the beach and grasping objects with the toes. Thanks to these exercises, the foot and the tendons and muscles that form it are exercised, thus preventing the onset of the pathology.

What does the treatment consist of?

In cases where flat feet cause pain when walking, the use of insoles, orthopedic footwear or wedges is recommended. It is also necessary to avoid those activities or movements that cause pain, in case of suffering from other pathologies such as obesity or overweight should reduce weight, resort to medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the level of pain and inflammation techniques are physiotherapy or ultrasound therapy. And in the most severe cases of flatfoot, surgery can be chosen to clean and repair the tendon that produces the lack of arch in the foot and thus fuse some joints of the foot until the correct position is achieved.