To help manage the painful symptoms of flat feet that our patients struggle with, we use custom orthotics designed from an innovative 3D scan of their feet. This captures the intricate contours of the arch and the details of the feet. The orthotics are then precisely designed to provide support and stability where each pair of feet need them most.
Flat feet: The low-down
Having flat feet means that you have low or no visible arches on the inside borders of the feet. Your ankles may roll and bulge inwards, and your toes may appear to point outwards. Medically, this is referred to as pes planus. When you walk, this excessive rolling in is called pronation, meaning that you have a pronated foot type.
As your pronation may be mild or severe, this is one of the many things we examine as podiatrists, so we know how to best direct treatment and offer the best support for your flat feet.
What are the symptoms of flat feet?
According to recent research, between 16% and 26% of the adult population have flat feet. While having flat feet does not guarantee that you will develop foot pain, it does place you at a higher risk of overuse injuries and pains. This is because flat feet may put additional strain on the soft tissues and bones of the feet, which is then exacerbated by physical activity and time spent standing and walking.
The patients we see with flat feet and foot or leg pain often complain of tired, achy legs, plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, Achilles pain, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (see below), knee pain, shin splints, calf pain, arch pain and more.
When our podiatrists examine flat feet and how they are affecting your alignment and body, we look for signs as opposed to symptoms. These include:
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Shoes wearing out quickly on the inner side
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Bulging on the inside of the foot
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Toes appearing to point outwards
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Whether your heel bone is rolling in or out
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The shape of your arch
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Ankle position
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Your ‘neutral’ foot position
What causes flat feet?
Most people will have had flat feet for as long as they can remember. It will be related to the shape and structure of the bones in their feet, the stability of their joints, the flexibility of their ligaments, their muscle strength/weakness, and how all these factors (and others) work together.
Others may develop flat feet in adulthood as a result of an injury, condition or disease. Examples include:
1. Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD)
Your posterior tibial tendon is one of the major supporting and stabilising tendons for your arch. It runs down the inside of your leg, below your ankle, and beneath the arch. It places a crucial role in helping you walk, as well as stand on your toes.
With flat feet, your posterior tibial tendon has to work harder to perform its role. Over time, this can lead to tendon damage, inflammation, and pain. An injured tendon is weakened, meaning that it cannot sufficiently perform its role. If PTTD is left untreated, or the damage worsens, your feet may flatten.
This is where foot orthotics can play a vital role. By supporting the natural contours of the foot and arch, the posterior tendon can heal as it will not continue to be overused and strained. Orthotics can then be used on an ongoing basis to help prevent the tendon from being overused in the future, hence preventing the pain from coming back.
2. Pregnancy
During pregnancy, a hormone called relaxin circulates through your body in higher quantities. It softens your ligaments, making them more flexible so that your body can accommodate your growing baby. It also affects the ligaments of your feet, making it easier for your bones to spread apart. This can cause the feet to flatten, and is why many women choose to support their feet with orthotics during pregnancy.
3. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
RA is an autoimmune disorder that affects the joints, resulting in them becoming weaker and less stable. This joint weakness can result in flattening of the foot and arch.
Flat feet in kids
Young children may appear to have flat feet because of the fat pads on the bottom of their feet during early childhood. By the age of four, where kids are confident and stable on their feet, we’d expect an arch to have formed. If it hasn’t, and your kids are experiencing any of the following symptoms in their feet and legs, we recommend bringing them in to be assessed.
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Pain or aches
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Regular tripping or falling
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Appearing unbalanced or uncoordinated
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Aren’t able to keep up with their classmates during sports
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Are hesitant to participate in physical activity (may be a sign of underlying pain)
How are flat feet treated?
Managing flat feet often involves two parts:
- Treating any pains or problems that the flat feet are creating
- Supporting the feet to help reduce the likelihood of pains or problems in the future
The treatment for any existing pain depends entirely on which structure has been injured, and the extent of the injury. Generally, this may involve shockwave treatment, strapping, orthotics, footwear, gait retraining, physical therapy, splinting, foot mobilisation and many more options.
A key component of both these parts that we often use at the Melbourne Foot, Ankle and Walking Clinic is foot orthoses.
Orthotics support for flat feet
Orthotics are a simple way to help alter the alignment and positioning of the feet to help improve support, stability and comfort. By matching the natural contours of the arch that are captured by a 3D scan in our clinic, the support that your custom insoles offer means that your muscles and tissues do not have to work as hard with every step. This helps to reduce the likelihood of injury, as well as helping to facilitate the recovery of any pains you may currently have.
Worried about your flat feet?
If you’re worried about the effect that your flat feet are having on the rest of your body, you should get assessed by your podiatrist. Here at the Melbourne Foot, Ankle and Walking Clinic, our team will be able to show you the impact on your feet and legs and discuss with you the best management options in light of your symptoms.
Book online here or call us (03) 9879 4566