Flat Feet : Causes, Effects, Symptoms and Treatment
Flat Feet • • • •
Causes Effects Symptoms Treatment
Origin of Flat feet The absence of an arch in the sole of the foot causes the foot to lie flat when a person is standing. Flat foot are sometimes the result of congenital bone deformity. Flat feetIn some cases, however, flat feet develop over time. When a person walks, gravity-induced pressure puts three to four times the body’s weight on each foot and over the years, imbalance on the muscles may cause a disorder in the feet’s natural arch. The excess weight or pounding stress can cause the arch of the metatarsal to flatten or fall.
Flat feet : The Causes and Symptoms Flat feet is a common condition and normal with infants and toddlers. They occur because the tissues in the feet that hold the joints together are loose.
As children grow, the tissues tighten to form an arch which would have taken place by the time a child reaches the age of 2 or 3. People normally have arches at the time of adulthood. In some people, however, the arches never form. The instep of the foot comes in contact with the ground when standing.
In persons who already formed arches, aging, injuries, or illness can harm the tendons and cause the development of flat feet. The flat foot can occur on only one side. Most cases of flat foot do not result in sore foot or other problems although in children, foot,
ankle and lower leg pain may be felt. This should be seen by a doctor. In adults, tired or aching feet after long standing or sports activities may be experienced.
Diagnosis and Treatment Rigid flat feet is diagnosed when a patient stands on his toes and the arch does not form. If sore foot is experienced, tests that would be recommended include an MRI scan to look at the tendons, a CT scan to look at the foot bones or an x-ray of the foot. The treatment is based on the cause of the condition. For tarsal condition, or painful flat feet in children that is caused by the fusing together of two or more bones of the foot, treatment would start with rest and maybe a cast. If foot pain does not recede, surgery becomes an option to clean and fix the tendons or to fuse the foot joins into a correct position.
When no foot pain is caused by flat feet in adults, or in case of flexible flat feet (an arch forms when a person stands on his toes), no treatment is necessary. In children, if no problem is presented when walking or no foot pain is felt, no treatment is necessary. Pain caused by flexible flat feet can be remedied by: – – – –
Orthotics or arch supports inside the shoe. Rest and icing the foot arch Special shoes or changing footwear for maximum comfort Pain relievers and shoe insert
Oftentimes, cases requiring surgery obtain positive results in terms of improved pain in the foot and function. While most cases of flat feet cannot be prevented, professional treatment should be sought when lower leg pain or sore feet becomes evident.
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