Flat Feet(Pes Planus)? Cause, Complication and Treatment

Flat Feet is an abnormal medical condition where in the arch of an individual’s foot collapses thereby the complete sole of the foot comes in contact with the ground. Flat feet can be easily identified by observing one’s foot in standing position, one has to check whether the feet have an arch or it is very low touching the ground. Rigid flat foot is also one of the kind where in the sole of the foot is very much rigid as well as flat even when the person is not standing, due to the problems in bones of the affected feet.

Causes

Doctors say ‘Flat Feet’ is hereditary in nature. It is seen in some children due to ‘Tarsal Coalition’. Tarsal Coalition is a condition where in two or more bones fuses together to result in foot fuse thereby limiting one’s movement.

Some patient witnesses an arch when they sit due to no weight on the feet but when they stand; the arch is absent due to the body weight pressure on it. Flattening also can happen if the Postario tibial tendon is damaged, which is the major support for the arch of an individual’s feet.

Symptoms

Most of the people with flat feet suffer from foot pain but  a little pain in the feet due to the joint ligaments causes pain further in knees, ankles etc. Some patients even suffer from swell in the ankle, stiffness in both the feet.

Treatment

The actual treatment for the flat feet starts by knowing the actual cause for the syndrome. A physiotherapist identifies the flat feet on a consultation by means of “Wet Footprint”. It is an easy method where in the person suffering from flat foot is made to wet his foot in water and then ask him to stand on a smooth, level surface. Observing the print results, analyzing it to know whether the complete portion of the foot has made a contact or a portion of the foot is touching the floor.

The disorder can also be recognized by making patient to stand on the tip-toe and examining the arch of the foot. More the surface of the foot that has made contact with the ground, more the foot is flatter.

Various effective treatments include ankle braces, anti-inflammatory medication, shoe inserts and surgeries. The Patient needs to avoid activities when the feet pains due to the fusion in the ligaments or bones, stress on the bones can be relieved by taking rest. Surgeries are also prescribed to separate the fused bones.