Flat feet are normal in infants and toddlers because the longitudinal (toe to heel) arch is not developed. The arch develops during childhood. By adulthood, only one in seven people have flat feet. That still makes flat-footedness more common than many would expect.
The cause is the same as it was when we were babies. The adult toe to heel arch is either absent or less than normal. The condition is not correctable. However, if the flat feet cause pain, an orthotic--an arch-preserving insert in the shoe--can bring relief.
Most feet are flexible. Stand on your toes and an arch appears. If your feet are flat and you stand on your toes, the arch is missing or diminished.
You can check the degree of foot flatness by standing with wet feet on a cement floor. The print of the foot will show a large contact with the surface.
Flat feet lean inward when the person stands up straight. Stiff, inflexible flat feet may be associated with other conditions and require attention.
Persistent pain
Call your health care provider if you experience persistent pain in your feet. Also have a child checked out if he or she complains of pain in the foot or lower leg.
The medical name for flat feet is pes planus. Alternative names are pes planovalgus, fallen arches, or pronation of the feet.
Pronation is a leaning inward of the ankles toward the center line. It is common in young children. Children who pronate will leave tell-tale signs on their shoes. After they have worn the shoes long enough for the foot position to alter the shoe shape, the shoes will lean toward each other when placed side by side.
A pain in the heel, known as "plantar fasciitis," is usually caused by over-pronation (flat feet). The plantar fascia is a broad band of fibrous tissue that runs along the bottom surface of the foot and into the forefoot.
Over-pronation can cause this band of tissue to be excessively stretched and inflamed. This combination of stresses results in pain in the arch and heel areas of the foot.
The pain is often more intense the first thing in the morning or after a prolonged period of rest. It usually subsides as the day wears on.
Proper treatment
Proper treatment begins with finding ways to absorb shock, provide cushioning and elevate the heel to transfer pressure.
When the pain (usually plantar fasciitis) is associated with pronation, the source of the problem can be controlled with an orthotic with medial posting and good arch support.
By whatever name it is called -- pes planus, flat feet or pronation -- the condition is not a laughing matter for those whose jobs call for a lot of walking or standing.
Police officers walking their beats, letter carriers delivering the mail, sales clerks standing for hours in their various departments, even surgeons who are on their feet for hours during complicated operations -- all must deal wiht this foot problem and its discomforts.
One thing's for sure. Knowing the importance of proper footwear selection with firm heel counter, good arch support and appropriate heel height, they aren't going to be caught flat-footed--in another sense of the term--even though early development played a trick on them.
Copyright 2001 by Dr. Phillip L. Polakoff and medical writer Jack Tucker/PAI. Used with permission.
Flat feet are normal in infants and toddlers because the longitudinal (toe to heel) arch is not developed. The arch develops during childhood. By adulthood, only one in seven people have flat feet. That still makes flat-footedness more common than many would expect.
The cause is the same as it was when we were babies. The adult toe to heel arch is either absent or less than normal. The condition is not correctable. However, if the flat feet cause pain, an orthotic–an arch-preserving insert in the shoe–can bring relief.
Most feet are flexible. Stand on your toes and an arch appears. If your feet are flat and you stand on your toes, the arch is missing or diminished.
You can check the degree of foot flatness by standing with wet feet on a cement floor. The print of the foot will show a large contact with the surface.
Flat feet lean inward when the person stands up straight. Stiff, inflexible flat feet may be associated with other conditions and require attention.
Persistent pain
Call your health care provider if you experience persistent pain in your feet. Also have a child checked out if he or she complains of pain in the foot or lower leg.
The medical name for flat feet is pes planus. Alternative names are pes planovalgus, fallen arches, or pronation of the feet.
Pronation is a leaning inward of the ankles toward the center line. It is common in young children. Children who pronate will leave tell-tale signs on their shoes. After they have worn the shoes long enough for the foot position to alter the shoe shape, the shoes will lean toward each other when placed side by side.
A pain in the heel, known as “plantar fasciitis,” is usually caused by over-pronation (flat feet). The plantar fascia is a broad band of fibrous tissue that runs along the bottom surface of the foot and into the forefoot.
Over-pronation can cause this band of tissue to be excessively stretched and inflamed. This combination of stresses results in pain in the arch and heel areas of the foot.
The pain is often more intense the first thing in the morning or after a prolonged period of rest. It usually subsides as the day wears on.
Proper treatment
Proper treatment begins with finding ways to absorb shock, provide cushioning and elevate the heel to transfer pressure.
When the pain (usually plantar fasciitis) is associated with pronation, the source of the problem can be controlled with an orthotic with medial posting and good arch support.
By whatever name it is called — pes planus, flat feet or pronation — the condition is not a laughing matter for those whose jobs call for a lot of walking or standing.
Police officers walking their beats, letter carriers delivering the mail, sales clerks standing for hours in their various departments, even surgeons who are on their feet for hours during complicated operations — all must deal wiht this foot problem and its discomforts.
One thing’s for sure. Knowing the importance of proper footwear selection with firm heel counter, good arch support and appropriate heel height, they aren’t going to be caught flat-footed–in another sense of the term–even though early development played a trick on them.
Copyright 2001 by Dr. Phillip L. Polakoff and medical writer Jack Tucker/PAI. Used with permission.