Why Are Flat Feet a Health Concern?

As many as 37% of men and women suffer from flat feet (pes planus) when your foot’s natural arch is flattened out. While the condition itself isn’t necessarily harmful, it can cause a surprising array of problems affecting your comfort and quality of life.

At Forward Foot & Ankle, our team treats flat feet using a patient-centered approach focused on helping each patient relieve symptoms and improve their foot mechanics. Here, learn why flat feet happen and how they can affect your health and wellness.

Flat feet 101

The naturally curved arches of your feet serve important functions. Comprising bones, ligaments, and other components, the arches provide support and stability while affording flexibility needed for walking and other movements. If your arches are flattened, those functions are compromised, too.

Flat feet are especially common in early childhood when a child’s feet grow. Flat feet often go away as the natural arch grows over time. In adults, flat feet may continue from childhood or develop later, a condition called acquired flat feet or “fallen” arches.

Acquired flat feet can happen for different reasons, including:

• Obesity
• Foot injuries
• Diabetes
• Pregnancy
• Achilles tendon problems
• Arthritis

Some people inherit a specific foot shape or gait pattern that increases their risk of developing flat feet. Some muscle and nervous system disorders can increase your risk, too.

How flat feet affect your health

Considering your feet support the weight of your entire body and help you walk, stand, and perform many other functions, it’s easy to see how an arch problem could cause significant issues with your mobility and comfort, too. 

Foot pain

Flat feet place added stress and strain on your foot’s muscles and other structural components, leading to chronic pain and inflammation. Changes in how you walk also increase your risk of developing other problems, like bunions, corns, and calluses.

Joint damage and increased risk of arthritis

Flat feet can change your posture, putting excess strain on your joints. That added wear and tear slowly breaks down the joint’s protective surface, increasing your risk of painful arthritis and reduced mobility in the future.

Balance issues

Flat arches directly affect your posture and your body’s “built-in” balance system. When your arches are flat, it’s more difficult for your body to attain and maintain alignment, increasing your risk of falls and related injuries, including ankle sprains and fractures. Poor balance can make it harder to participate in sports, too.

Back, hip, and knee pain

Because flat feet alter posture and balance, they can also increase strain on the back and knees. Over time, this added strain increases the likelihood of back, hip, and knee pain, making it difficult to engage in simple activities like walking or climbing stairs.

Treating flat feet

Treatment for flat feet begins with a comprehensive evaluation of your feet and gait pattern, along with a review of your symptoms and overall health history, so we can identify underlying issues that need to be addressed.

Based on your examination and evaluation results, our team works with you to develop a treatment plan focused on long-lasting relief and prevention of future problems. Depending on your needs, your treatment play might include:

• Custom orthotics designed to support your arches
• Physical therapy to improve strength, mobility, and flexibility
• Physical therapy to improve strength, mobility, and flexibility
• Medications to relieve pain and inflammation
• Weight loss when needed

If these conservative treatments don’t provide adequate, long-term relief for your pain, our team may suggest surgery to realign and rebuild your arches and the structures that support them.

Don’t ignore foot pain

Foot pain is never normal, and even “minor” pain can result in changes to your balance and your gait, leading to more serious issues in the future. To find out how we can help, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Forward Foot & Ankle in Midtown Manhattan and Staten Island, New York, today.