The Complete Guide to Flat Feet and How They Can Cause Discomfort and Pain
The Complete Guide to Flat Feet and How They Can Cause Discomfort and Pain
Introduction: What are Flat Feet?
Flat foot is a common , painless condition in which you have flattened arches that is when entire soles of your feet, touches the floor while standing.
There are innumerable causes of flat foot but most often its because arches fails to develop during childhood. Secondarily it may be a result of injury or wear and tear stress of age or inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Myth#1 Wearing the incorrect footwear leads to flat feet.
Genetics, gaining weight or becoming older, weak muscles in the legs and feet, or just general wear and tear are just a few of the causes of flat feet. The tendons in the arch can be relieved of pressure by wearing shoes with adequate arch support, but the shape of your arch and whether you acquire flat feet have absolutely nothing to do with the shoes you wear.
What Causes Flat Feet?
Foot arches develop till the age of 6yrs hence it's absolutely normal in infants and toddlers. But some individuals never develops arches even in adulthood, and they may not have any pain in the foot. This is a sort of normal variation of foot and doesn’t require any treatment.
Often flat feet are flexible that is they manifest only when the child is sitting or standing and tend to disappear when the kid stands on toes. This type of flat foot usually resolves as the kid grows.
Sometimes in old age, arches fall over time, because of wear and tears of the arch supporting ligaments and tendons.
Various Risk factors for flat foot are
Obesity
Injury to your foot or ankle
Rheumatoid arthritis
Aging
Diabetes
Myth#2 Flat-footed individuals shouldn't run.
It's a frequent misconception that running will make flat feet worse if you have them. In actuality, flat-footed individuals may run well. In actuality, flat feet are common among sprinters and marathon runners. The biggest reasons of discomfort during running, not the form of one's arch, are over pronation, or rolling the foot inward too much, and weak muscles in the legs and feet. Do not allow your foot condition deter you from hitting the trails because flat feet are really more flexible and shock-absorbing than feet with higher arches.
How to Prevent Flat Feet?
Flatfoot is not something that you can prevent. If you have got flatfoot it’s essential to maintain healthy weight to avenge the pain.
Myth#3 There are only Two Treatment options for Flatfoot
Without surgery or orthotics, flat feet may usually be treated.
The discomfort or issues brought on by having flat feet can be reduced by performing easy stretches to strengthen the muscles in the legs and feet.
Compression socks are an additional easy solution for flat feet. These socks stabilize and support the arch, reducing foot stiffness and inflammation.
Additionally, they aid in boosting blood flow to the muscles in the legs and feet, which by enhancing circulation there, lowers discomfort and swelling.
How to Treat Your Flat Feet?
Majority of patients don’t have any significant problem with flatfoot, hence don’t require any treatment.
Usually as a first line of treatment in case of pain or stiffness with flatfoot, non surgical treatment is advised.
Rest
Ice fomentation
Physical therapies
Supportive devices : Foot orthotics , Braces, Arch supports, Insoles.
Myth#4 Is It Bad To Have Flat Feet?
Keep in mind that having flat feet might lead to problems in the future. The possible discomfort that one can experience as they age and when walking is one of the main worries. The problems may arise as the tendons and ligaments in that area lengthen, rupture, or expand as a result of repeated contact with the ground. Due to discomfort and any stiffness that may also be present, a person with flat feet may have poor health.
Did you know that having a flat foot might have further negative consequences on your health because it's been linked to diseases like diabetes and other internal problems?
It can develop from childhood and impact your body in many ways, whether you experience discomfort when standing or with your feet on the ground.
People will treat flat feet with general supporting devices, orthotics for support, and therapies like physical therapy. To assist you in managing your condition and guiding you toward better health, doctors may suggest a variety of therapies.
Conclusion: Dealing with Foot Pain Due to a Flattened Foot
Its very important to remember that it takes some time for any therapy to act on your flaat feet, hence be consistent with your approach and follow it as you get relief.
Developing a deeper awareness of your body can help you to determine how best to adjust your posture and movement during daily activities to correct body imbalances. Make a conscious effort to pay attention to how you stand, move, and position your body, making micro-adjustments as needed.
Talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing pain while standing or walking. You may also benefit from orthotics or physical therapy.
We hope you enjoyed our blog on how flat feet can cause discomfort and pain. During our lives, we all have to deal with pain and discomfort at some point. With the medical advice provided in this article, who knows what type of pains you might be able to relieve? Please contact us anytime if you have any questions or concerns, you can reach us at +91 9111464959 or gaurav.medico@gmail.com . Thank you for reading, we are always excited when one of our posts is able to provide useful information on a topic like this!