You may have noticed that your feet don’t have a high arch in the middle, or they might not have an arch at all. This may not be a problem for you. After all, millions of people who have flat feet live their entire life without experiencing any pain as a result of the condition.
However, even people who don’t have chronic pain from their flat feet can experience other foot-related problems—some of which can lead to major injury. If you have noticed any of the following, it might be time to see a podiatrist in Phoenixville:
- Difficulty standing for a long time. Adults who stand for long periods of time might notice cramping or tiredness in their feet.
- Athletic complications. People with flat feet who run or play sports should take care to stretch properly and wear shoes that flex properly to avoid overstressing their arches.
- Plantar fasciitis. Some people never develop arches after birth, but even a person who has formed arches can develop flat feet—and sometimes only one arch will “fall.” This can put extreme stress on the ligament along the bottom of the foot (plantar fascia), causing it to become inflamed and painful.
- Over-pronation. People whose arches collapse when walking or bearing weight can have an unsteady gait. Ligaments in the foot can tear and bones that support the foot can collapse, causing overuse of muscles in the foot, which in turn can cause shin splints or other pain in the feet and ankles.
- Rigid feet. Often, people who do not experience painful flat feet have the ability to fully flex and bend their feet. People whose arch does not form when they stand on their toes are said to have rigid flat feet, a condition that can be painful and may need to be corrected surgically.
- Other health risks. Flat feet can be a symptom of many other health conditions, including arthritis, obesity, and diabetes.
If you think that your flat feet may cause you problems down the road, the Philadelphia foot doctors and staff at Healthmark Foot and Ankle Associates can help. We work with your body, your schedule, and your lifestyle to find a way to fix flat feet in Media, helping you avoid foot-related issues in the future.
Call us today for an appointment in Media at 610-565-3668 or in Phoenixville at 610-933-8644. You can also click the link at the top of this page and we’ll send you a FREE copy of our book The Foot Is Not an Island: Recognizing Vitamin D Deficiency & How to Correct It.