Causes and Treatment of Flat Feet
When your one or both feet have no or little arches, doctors will say that you have developed flat feet. The part of your feet presses into the ground, as you stand straight. While the arch sometimes appears when you lift your feet, you will often see any arch in your feet.
Doctors will term the non – development of arches as one of flat foot disadvantages that you will experience in this condition. It is seen that all babies have flat feet. The arches usually develop by the age of six.
It is seen in research that out of ten children, two children develop flat feet as adult. There are even arches in adult feet that get collapsed. It is seen that you will feet will not get normal arches as you stand.
Causes of Flat Feet
When you have flat feet, doctors will tell you that there are several causes of this condition. These causes are denoted below for the readers.
Congenital Abnormalities
While babies are born with flat feet, their feet changes, and arches develop, along with their tendons and muscles. It is also seen that some babbies never come out of flat feet condition. It is a normal type of foot variation.
Doctors will say that congenital abnormities are one of the causes of flat feet.
Tendon Injury
It is seen that feet have bones, and lots of tendons. While your bones are not only connected with each other in your legs, your Achilles tendon in your ankle relates to posterior tibial tendon.
They are also connected with the ankle to the inside bottom of your plantar fascia ligament, and your foot. There can be development of fallen arches if you experience other injuries of tendons, tears, and inflammation.
Broken Bones
There can be problems for your posterior tibial tendon if you have dislocated or broken bones. It can also result in fallen arches as well. While supporting entire body, and helping in movements, the connective tissues and bones in your feet will create an intricating network.
There will be development of flat feet if you experience any injury at any part of your ankle or your foot.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
When you have rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune disease will attack ligaments, cartilage, and synovial lining your foot joints. There will be stiffness, swelling and pain in such condition. While there may be change of shape of your feet, it will lead to flat feet.
Nerve Damage
When you have unmanaged diabetes, nerve damage is a common side effect. While your arches will collapse, you will lose sensation in your feet. Your bones will get fractured, slide out of place, and disintegrate as well.
Treatment
When doctors will say that you have flat feet symptoms, you will need to go for the treatment of flat feet. If you have no symptoms, you do not go for treatment. Doctors will advise you to go for well- fitted shoes if your feet are causing pain.
The extra- wide fitting shoes will provide you relief. Doctors will also suggest that you will need orthotics and fitted – insoles as well. When you are looking for reduce your pain in your feet, custom- designed arch supports may provide relief.
There will be little rolling of your feet, and little inward movement as well. It is also seen that podiatrists will try out other methods as well, once they start with the treatment of your condition.
It is necessary that you should use the orthotics under the supervision of your podiatrist. If you are using the wrong orthotics, there can be worsening of symptom. Doctors will also suggest anti inflammatory drugs for your pain relief.
Doctors will ask you to eat healthy foods if obesity is a contributing factor for your flat feet condition. While doctors will suggest you to reduce your stress on the arches, they will ask you to eat healthy food so that you can reach a healthy body mass index.
Change in Lifestyle
If you have flat feet, doctors will advice you to change your lifestyle. While they will recommend better exercise programs for them, they will also recommend some healthy foods for your feet.
Doctors will also recommend that you should not stand or walk for long time.
Medication
As doctors will check your inflammation and pain, they will prescribe medication for your flat feet condition. There is anti – inflammatory, and non steroidal medicines that can give you relief from pain and swelling.
Surgery
Doctors will perform flat feet surgery, which is the last resort of treatment. They will perform the surgery with the help of general anesthesia. Doctors will try to reduce post- operative pain with the local anesthesia.
While the surgeons will reshape the bone to renew the arch, they will also repair the ligaments, and tendons that are supporting arch.
Final Words
There are several causes of flat feet condition. Doctors will perform several types of treatments so that you can move normally in your life.