Fallen arches meaning how to#

If you are a recreational runner or walker, talk to your foot and ankle specialist about modifying your exercise routine. In non-surgical cases of severe collapse that is rigid, a brace may also be used to support the foot and ankle.Ĭut back on activities that are causing you pain. These can be bought over the counter, or you can have custom orthotics made for you by your foot and ankle specialist.Ī custom brace that combines orthotic and ankle support may be necessary in cases of tendon tear or severe collapse of the arch. Ask your foot and ankle specialist for recommendations, or have your shoes modified to fit your feet.Īnother easy yet effective treatment for flatfoot is to wear orthotic shoe inserts for arch support. One of the easiest ways to relieve the discomfort of flatfoot pain is by wearing well-fitting shoes with a firm soles. There are several non-surgical options that you can use to relieve your discomfort, including: Most cases of flatfoot can be treated conservatively.

Fallen arches meaning how to#

He or she will explain what symptoms to look out for and how to prevent them or address them when they arise. If you receive a diagnosis of flexible flatfoot but are not experiencing any symptoms, your doctor may recommend no treatment for the time being. If a tendon or ligament tear is thought to be possible, an MRI may be ordered. An X-ray can help the doctor understand the severity of the condition. The doctors at University Foot and Ankle Institute will take a close look at the structure of your feet and examine how your foot moves and changes shape while sitting, standing, or taking steps. If your feet are causing you problems, visit your foot and ankle specialist for an exam. This tendency can cause bunions and hammertoes in some patients. Patients with flatfoot may experience “toe-drift,” a condition in which the toes gradually begin to point outward.Foot and leg fatigue after a few hours of standing or walking.Shin splint (pain running up the shin bone, especially when weight-bearing).Aching pain in the arch, heel, ankle, or the outside edge of the foot.Flatfeet may cause pain in the lower back.Therefore, it is important to control the flat foot alignment and hold the foot in a more normal position to avoid long-term complications. It is important to remember that a flexible flat foot will sometimes become rigid over time as the joints adapt to the collapsed position and arthritic changes may occur. Too much pronation leads to a flat foot and is considered a disorder, especially when the condition is painful. The motion in the joints that causes the foot’s arch to fall is called pronation (where the foot rolls inwards causing the arch to flatten). This change in gait can exacerbate the problem by increasing pressure on the arch and collapsing the foot alignment. The tight muscle and tendon bring the heel off the ground too early with each step. Tight Achilles tendon and/or calf muscle are also a risk factor for flat feet. Any injury to this tendon, which runs on the arch side of the ankle and foot, can affect its ability to maintain an arch in the foot and can result in a flat foot. The posterior tibial tendon creates the arch and supports the foot when you push off your toes when walking and running. In the case of a flexible flat foot that is not due to a posterior tibial tendon tear, support of the arch with insoles, orthotics, and rigid-soled shoes will decrease the strain on the posterior tibial tendon and decrease the risk of further and permanent arch collapse due to tendon tear.įlexible flat foot is often caused by posterior tibial tendon dysfunction. The deformity in flexible flatfoot involves a mild, gradual collapse of the foot’s arch, and almost always occurs in both feet. In many cases of flat foot that is not worsening over time and is on both feet problem originates in childhood and lasts throughout adulthood, typically worsening without treatment. It is important to treat a flexible flat foot due to posterior tibial tendon tear rapidly prior to the joints becoming rigid due to the severe collapse.

Over time, the collapsed arch may go from flexible to rigid as the foot gets “stuck” in the flat position and therefore is not freely reducible and correctable. With a tear in the tendon over many years of abnormal strain, the arch will begin to collapse as the posterior tibial tendon weakens and unravels. This is due to damage to the posterior tibial tendon which is the main tendon supporting the arch of the foot. Adult acquired flat foot is not a congenital flat foot but acquired over time.