A flat foot is a condition where both feet do not have normal arches, and allowing the entire sole of the foot to touch the floor when standing up. Flat feet can develop due to an injury or from the usual wear-and-tear stress of aging as well as problems of the knees and ankles caused by a condition that alters the placement of the legs. If there is no pain, there is no treatment necessary for flat feet.
Symptoms of flatfeet
Some people with flat feet do not have symptoms but other people experiences foot pain especially in the heel or the arch area and there is swelling along the inside area of the ankle. You can learn ways to manage the symptoms by enrolling in a first aid class today.
Causes of flat feet
A flat foot is normal among babies and toddlers since their foot arch is not yet developed and most arches develop throughout childhood and for some people their arches never develop.
Some factors that can increase the person’s risk of having a flat feet include traumatic injury that is caused to the foot and ankle, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity and aging of the person.
Treatment and home remedies
- If the person is obese, try to lose weight in order to reduce the amount of stress that is placed on the feet and prevents it from getting worse.
- Seek the help of a foot specialist or podiatrist, so that they can assess the condition through an exam and they will develop a treatment plan for the person’s flat feet.
- Use an arch support that can be fitted for the feet and they are inserted to the shoes to provide arch support and if this support does not minimize the pain, a brace can be used.
- Take over-the-counter non-steroid anti-inflammatory medicines.
- Limit doing certain activities that put so much stress on the feet such as minimize wearing of high heels or switch from high impact to lower impact exercises can help.
- Flat feet can be caused by a tight tendon. A physical therapist will teach the person some stretching and strengthening exercises.
- If the pain is severe and persists even with other treatments, seek medical help.
Preventing flat feet
- Maintain an ideal body weight in order to prevent flat feet. Being overweight can put pressure on the ligaments found in the feet and causes the arches to flatten.
- Wear shoes that give proper support to the arch and helps feet from becoming flat. Some shoes that cause flat feet are high heels, flip flops, sandals and loafer type shoes. Wearing sturdy sneakers helps in preventing flat feet and can minimize the pain that have started to flatten out.
- Wear an arch support inserts that are placed inside the shoes, especially when wearing high heels. An arch support is an insole that is inserted into the shoe and will create an arch and it prevents further flattening of the ligaments found in the foot as well as reduces the discomfort caused by flat feet.