Flat Foot
Flat Foot Treatment in Spartanburg, Duncan, and Greenville, SC
What is Flat Foot?
Flatfeet, also called flatfoot, is a common condition in which the arches on the inside of the feet flatten out when they are put under pressure. When people with flatfeet stand up, their feet point outward and their whole soles touch the floor.
Flatfeet can happen if the arches don’t form when a child is young. It can also happen later in life because of an accident or just normal wear and tear.
Flat Foot Symptoms
Most people with flatfeet don’t have any signs or symptoms. But some people with flat feet have pain in the heel or arch of their foot. Pain may get worse when you do things. On the inside of the foot, there may be swelling.
What Causes Flatfeet?
Flatfeet are common in babies and young children because their feet don’t have arches yet. Most people get arches as they grow up, but some people never get arches. People without arches might have problems or they might not.
Some children have flexible flatfeet, which is when the arch is noticeable when the child is sitting or standing on their toes but disappears when the child stands. Most kids grow out of flexible flatfeet on their own.
The problem can also happen to people who don’t have flatfeet. When an arch gets hurt, it can fall quickly. Or, the building can fall apart slowly over time. Over time, the muscle that runs along the inside of the ankle and helps support the arch can weaken or tear. As the pain gets worse, arthritis may start to show up in the foot.
Flat Foot Treatment
Most of the time, flatfeet don’t hurt. If you aren’t in pain, you don’t need treatment. But if your flatfeet hurt and stop you from doing the things you want to do, you may want to schedule an appointment with an orthopedic specialist.
For painful feet, nonsurgical treatments may include:
- Arch supports – Pain from flat feet can be helped by arch supports that don’t need a prescription. Some doctors suggest arch supports that are made to fit the shape of the foot. Arch supports won’t fix flatfeet, but they often help ease the pain
- Stretching exercises – Some people who have flatfeet also have an Achilles tendon that is too short. Stretching exercises for this tendon could help
- Physical therapy – Some runners may get overuse injuries because they have flatfeet. A physical therapist can give you routines to strengthen the muscles and tendons in your feet, as well as advice on how to walk better
- Surgery – Foot surgery is not always done to fix flatfeet. Surgery may be a choice for people who have tried nonsurgical treatments but still can’t do the things they want to do because of pain. Surgery can be done to help repair the issues with the bones and tendons that are causing the pain
Flatfeet Care in South Carolina
Here at CONA, our physicians are ready to help you get back to your daily activities pain-free. Reach out to us and request an appointment at any of our locations.