Flat feet are a condition where the arch of the foot has collapsed, and the whole bottom of the foot comes into contact with the ground. The bones in your feet are connected by tendons and ligaments and when these are stretched to the point of no return, the arch falls. In a normal arch, only the toes and the balls of the feet should show in a footprint. There are a few causes of flat feet, the least of which being born with them. Trauma or injury can cause flat feet, as can arthritis. In children, flat feet are easy to treat while in adults it's easy to treat but it's likely that if the condition was brought on in adulthood, it will stay that way.
There are two categories of flat feet. There are rigid flat feet, which is where the arch is flat and hard even when there is no pressure being put on the foot. This shows a significant problem in the bone structure of the foot and can require surgery. This may include the fusing of the ankle bones through surgery or tendon manipulation. Bones that are misplaced in the foot or fused together on their own can cause this condition. Arthritis that breaks down tendons in the foot can also cause the arches to fall and be rigidly immobile.
Non rigid flat feet are softer and when the foot is at rest, it is harder to tell if the arch has fallen. Flexible flat feet are treatable with exercises that work the arches and shoes or shoe inserts that are heavy arch support. This kind of flat feet often do not cause any pain, while the rigid flat feet are often associated with chronic pain. Occasionally, anti inflammatory medications may be prescribed for both conditions and should be regularly followed up on with your podiatrist.
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