What are flat feet?
Normal foot arches that develop properly have a prominent upward curve in the middle of the foot and are able to support and stabilize the tendons and ligaments in your foot and lower leg.
If you have flat feet or fallen arches, your arch either hasn’t developed properly or has collapsed over time.
What causes flat feet?
Flat feet are often present from birth, but you may also develop flat feet over time due to aging, overuse, or after a ligament tear, fracture, or other types of injury.
An arch also may collapse as a complication of certain medical conditions, such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.
How are flat feet diagnosed?
In addition to visiting a trained podiatrist like Dr. Giagnacova, there’s a simple test you can do at home to help you determine if you have flat feet.
Find some water and a concrete surface and get your feet wet. Stand on the surface as normal and step away so you can examine the imprints. If your arches are normal, the inside curve of your foot will be missing from the imprint. If you have flat feet, you should be able to see almost the entire imprint of the base of your foot.
What are the complications of flat feet?
Flat feet may cause redness, pain, and swelling that inhibits walking.
As the arch collapse worsens, your heel bone can shift out of alignment. This may cause ulcers or bony bumps to develop in your skin, and in some cases, flat feet forces other joints out of alignment.
How are flat feet treated?
After determining the severity and cause of your flat feet, Dr. Giagnacova devises a treatment plan geared towards supporting your arches, relieving pain, enhancing mobility, and preventing complications.
Treatments for flat feet include:
- Walking boot to allow your tendon to heal
- Rest and immobilization
- Medications to reduce pain and inflammation
- Losing weight if carrying excess pounds is worsening your condition
- Stretching exercises and physical therapy to relieve muscle tension
- Custom inserts, shoes, a brace, or other orthotics to support your arch
In more severe cases, Dr. Giagnacova might recommend surgery to correct bone abnormalities and repair damaged ligaments and tendons. He performs surgery to replace or lengthen tendons, stretch or tighten ligaments, and fuse or remove bones as needed to help your arch.
Pain from flat feet can ripple throughout your body and even radiate to your lower back. For expert help, call Next Step Foot & Ankle in Philadelphia or use online booking to schedule an appointment today.