Do I Have Flat Feet?
By Allan Tan
Flat feet is the most common foot deformity. Pronation of the feet tends to lost an arch at the bottom of your foot and can be called fallen arch.
Have you heard of the term fallen arch. This is essentially just another name for the condition. Normally the arch is considered to be the area on the bottom of your feet that typically does not touch the floor when you stand up. When there is no longer a gap there, this is sometimes referred to as a fallen arch.
If you generally feel pain in the arch area of your foot while standing or doing physical activities, you may be having a weakening arch. Many foot physicians will encourage patients to use foot orthotics like insoles. Orthotics are the artificial arches that you insert into shoes to give your arches extra support. You can find some of these at local stores while others can be from the doctor directly and given orthotics that match the shape of your foot. This is done through molds.
If you are experiencing pain within your arches or have fallen arches that you could develop other foot problems. Although the arch itself probably is not a serious issue, it can cause other problems over time. Related to the fallen arches will be the lower back pain and leg cramps experienced by many patients.
Pes planus when left untreated within children can lead to problems later on in life. Untreated over a long period of time, later on children born with this condition may suffer from arthritis. The easiest way to determine if this is a condition your child has is to simply look at a foot imprint. If you find that the arch is extremely visible on even a flat surface then this could likely be the culprit of the pain. If he or she complains about pain within their feet during physical activity and you are unable to determine if they have a weakened arch, you should consider visiting a podiatrist to seek professional advice.
In a nutshell, there are so many factors that can lead to foot pain. However, this is one of the more common problems you will find. Go visit a podiatrist if you think you or your child might be having this foot condition. Some insoles that provide support at the arch area can help reducing the pronation and the pain.
Allan writes for Foot-Care.org. You can read up on many helpful information on flatfeet, heel spurs and plantar fasciitis that on this website. They even have a foot health forum which you can use for free to ask podiatrists on foot related questions.
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