Flat feet, also called fallen arches or Pes planus (PP), is
a condition in which a person develops flattened arch on the inner side of
feet, which allows the sole to touch the ground while standing. It's an unusual
condition, which, however, does not cause pain in the beginning. Nevertheless,
it could become a cause of concern later in life, resulting in various foot
problems. Usually a painless condition, flat feet occurs as a result of a
childhood injury or due to wear and tear of age-related stresses. If left
untreated, the condition can contribute to complications in the knees and
ankles as it alters optimal aliment of the legs.
Possible Causes of Flat Feet in Adults
Flat feet are often caused due to various reasons; the cause
may vary from one person to another. It is believed that in case of adults,
excessive stress on the feet is a responsible factor. Failing to cure an
injury, like ankle sprain, without proper treatment and healing time, can cause
this problem.
Excessive feet stress occurs when:
• muscles weaken in the lower leg, foot and ankle due to
weight gain or aging
• people walk or stand for long, especially in dress shoes
or high heel
• people wear uncomfortable footwear without adequate arch
support
• foot injuries occur, such as broken foot bone or ankle
sprains
Other common causes of flat feet are:
• Weak arch that fails to bear body weight and becomes flat
over time
• Severe injury of the feet
• Degenerative diseases like arthritis
• Ruptured tendon (tibialis posterior)
• Pregnancy
• Muscles or nervous system diseases like muscular
dystrophy, spina bifida, or cerebral palsy
• Tarsal coalition, a condition in which bones of both the
feet fuse together to cause stiffness and fallen arches
• Diabetes
• Age
Future Health Problems from Fallen Arches
Flatfeet, if left untreated, can cause health problems in
the future. Since the condition is asymptomatic, causing no pain or problem
otherwise, people don't pay heed to it. However, anything that is structurally
unusual for the body should be reported to a specialist for proper diagnosis.
The condition can also be treated with shoe inserts, therapy, medications, leg
braces and surgery. But, before reaching the treatment stage, correct diagnosis
should be done.
Some common health problems associated with flat feet are:
• Pain, though not felt initially, can start affecting the
lower leg and ankles over time. Foot pain worsens when walking, running or
standing. It will only ease with rest. Such pain can be severe to limit
activities.
• Fallen arches can cause shin splints - a condition in
which the shinbone is inflamed due to overuse while running without adequate
foot support.
• Bunions may form, affecting the big toe joint at its base.
With flat feet, you might have difficulties in finding a good pair of shoes. As
a result, pressure on your joints is obvious. This pressure leads to enlarged
joints, which pushes the big toe to cause pain.
• Tendinitis is commonly caused due to flat feet. The
Achilles tendon is affected due to increased stress on the back of the ankles
and heals, which causes swelling, warmth and pain.
• Flatfeet make the feet muscles weaker, which leads to
hammertoe. It is a painful condition.
• Flatfoot could also lead to calluses, resulting from
constant friction or rubbing against the sole of shoes to cause hardened and
thickened skin layers to develop.
It is possible to take care of flat feet and prevent further
complications, but only when realized on time.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tanya_Ghosh
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