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Flat feet are common among children, but painful, progressive flat feet can lead to severe disability in adults. The team of highly trained podiatrists at Louisville Foot and Ankle Specialists offers a wide range of flat feet treatments. If painful flat feet are limiting your activities, call or book an appointment online today. The practice has offices in Leitchfield, Fern Creek, Elizabethtown, Shepherdsville, Jeffersonville, and Lousiville, Kentucky. Reach out to the one nearest you today.
What does it mean to have flat feet?
Flat feet, sometimes called overpronation, is a common condition that affects your foot structure. When you have flat feet, the arches on the insides of your feet lie flat against the ground instead of curving upward.
It’s normal for infants and toddlers to have flat feet. An arch develops when children begin to walk and stand on their toes. Most of the time, the arches continue to grow and are fully formed by adulthood. If you have flat feet, the arches may never develop.
What causes flat feet?
Flat feet happen when the tendons inside your feet are too loose or weak to support an arch. This common condition is associated with pronation, an inward leaning of your ankles toward the center of your body. Severe pronation may cause the soles of your shoes to wear out faster on the inside.
Painful progressive flat feet, or adult-acquired flat feet, happen when the tendons in your foot become inflamed, stretched, or torn. If left untreated, this condition can worsen and cause severe pain and disability.
When should I see a podiatrist for flat feet?
Most people don’t experience pain or symptoms of flat feet. In some cases, flat feet can cause pain and difficulty moving. You should schedule an appointment if you or your child experience any of the following symptoms of flat feet:
- Swelling along the inside of the ankle
- Alignment problems in the legs
- Foot, ankle, or lower leg pain
Contact the caring team at Louisville Foot and Ankle Specialists any time flat feet cause pain or limit your activities.
How do you diagnose and treat flat feet?
Your podiatrist begins with a thorough exam of your feet. They may ask you to stand on your toes to see whether an arch forms. If it doesn’t, they may take imaging tests, such as an X-ray or MRI, to examine the tissues in your feet.
If you have painful, progressive, flat feet, they recommend the best treatment for you. Depending on the severity of your condition, this may include:
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Icing, taping, or bracing
- Physical therapy
- Orthotics
Flat feet that cause severe pain or don’t improve with conservative treatments may require surgery to repair a damaged tendon.
If you or your child suffer from painful or disabling flat feet, call Louisville Foot and Ankle Specialists or book an appointment online.