Flat Feet and Effective Treatments—See Your Pedorthist

Adult Pes Planus [Flat Foot]

Having flat feet is a common condition that involves a flattened or fallen arch on the inside of your foot. This allows the sole of your foot to come into complete contact with the floor when you are standing. While typically painless, flat feet can often contribute to issues with your ankles, knees, hips and back because your body becomes misaligned.

While often hereditary, there are also risk factors that can increase your likelihood of developing flat feet later in life. These can include over-use of the foot or wearing inadequate shoes, obesity, diabetes, aging and even a foot injury. 

Common Issues Associated with Flat Feet:
Most people we see will not have any symptoms or issues with their flat feet. However, when left untreated, flat feet can eventually cause:

• Severe foot pain or cramps – especially in the heel and arch area of the foot.
• Swelling along the inside of the ankle due to excess pressure.
  
• Over-pronation, which forces the legs to turn inward and contribute to overuse injuries; including shin splints and chronic back issues.
  
• Flat feet may also lead to chronic heel spurs, which are very painful.

Best Way to Correct Flat Feet:
Some ways a Pedorthist can help you with your flat feet include:

1. Recommending custom orthotics to provide you with adequate arch support and redistributing pressure more equally around the foot.  Fact: Your foot comprises of 28 bones, 30 joints and more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments
   
2. Recommending shoes that are motion-controlled, also known as stability shoes to help maintain a more aligned gait pattern..
   
3. In severe cases, the tendon may need to be cleaned and repaired and joints in the foot may need to be fused (surgically) to correct the positioning of the foot’s arch. However, most Pedorthists will recommend orthotics first before surgical intervention is advised due to the poor percentage of success rates.

Schedule an initial consult with Stephan Radoja today!  They are free of charge and will help you understand your feet better!  If you suspect you have flat feet, meet with him today.  He can assess the arches of your feet and recommend a treatment option as well as a good shoe to help provide your feet with the support they need.
Give us a call at 905-467-5557 or request a call back here. 

Stephan Radoja, M.Sc., C. Ped 

Certified Pedorthist