How Can You Tell if You Have Flat Feet

Apartment feet (fallen arches)

four-minute read

Key facts

Flat feet have lower than normal arches, and appear flat against the ground.
Apartment anxiety don't always produce symptoms, but at times they can cause pain in the heel, arch, leg or other parts of the body.
Flat feet tin can develop with age, as wearable and tear on the feet causes the arch to drop.
Treatment can include orthotics, stretches, losing weight and wearing more supportive shoes.

What are flat anxiety?

Flat feet is the term used when the arch of the foot is lower than normal. This status is also known equally fallen arches.

The foot is normally an arch shape, with the middle function of the inside aspect of the foot off the basis and the heel and ball of the foot touching the basis. However, this isn't always the case. Sometimes the curvation never develops properly or it might flatten towards the ground.

Knowing what blazon of human foot you take and how it works can assistance y'all avoid bug and remain active throughout your life.

What are the symptoms of flat anxiety?

Flat feet don't always produce symptoms, but at times they tin can cause hurting in the heel, arch, leg or other parts of the torso. This is due to flat feet irresolute how the feet and legs align, and how they piece of work together when moving.

What causes flat feet?

Apartment anxiety tin can be caused by the arches in the feet not developing properly during childhood.

Children's feet develop at different speeds. All babies and nearly toddlers seem to have flat anxiety due to infant fat that hides the developing curvation. The arch in small children tin usually be seen when they stand on their toes.

Most children develop a more visible arch by around historic period 10. Some children might never develop an arch, which is perfectly normal and may never cause a problem.

Flat feet can develop with age, every bit wear and tear on the feet causes the arch to drib.

Some specific conditions can also crusade flat feet, including Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, cognitive palsy and muscular dystrophy.

Factors that increase the risk of apartment feet include:

injuries to the foot or ankle
rheumatoid arthritis
diabetes
obese

How are flat feet diagnosed?

To discover out if you have flat feet, look at the arch of your foot to see whether it's touching the ground.

Other signs that might point you lot have apartment anxiety include:

uneven shoe wear or shoes wearing out quickly
regular hurting in your feet and/or legs
tripping or falling often, especially for children
feet that are weak, numb or stiff

If you lot have whatever concerns about your feet, run into your GP or contact a podiatrist.

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How are flat feet treated?

If you have flat feetand they aren't causing you whatever pain or concerns, you don't demand treatment.

However, if yous have symptoms, treatment might include:

orthotics (special inserts for your shoes, sometimes known as curvation supports, that tin assistance to manage hurting or injury associated with apartment feet)
calf muscles stretches to improve flexibility
losing weight
wearing more supportive shoes

It's important to wearable shoes that fit. When ownership shoes:

have someone mensurate your foot's length and width
check that the shoe matches the natural shape of your foot
permit 1 cm of room betwixt the terminate of your longest toe and the end of the shoe
proceed the heel height under two.5cm
ensure the shoes arrange the activity you'll exist doing in them.

Resources and back up

If you lot need to know more than well-nigh flat feet, and to get advice on what to practise next, please call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 to speak with a registered nurse, 24 hours, 7 days a week (known equally NURSE-ON-Phone call in Victoria).

Larn more here well-nigh the evolution and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: April 2020

Need more information?

These trusted data partners have more on this topic.

Apartment anxiety

Most anxiety have an arch on the within of the foot; however, some children have flat feet, also known equally fallen arches or foot planus.

Read more on Sydney Children'south Hospitals Network website

Apartment feet in children

Virtually toddlers are flat footed because the curvation in their foot develops equally your kid grows. Find out more than about the causes and handling of flat anxiety.

Read more than on Pregnancy, Nascence & Baby website

Children'south feet and shoes - Better Wellness Channel

betterhealth.vic.gov.au

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Children's human foot health - MyDr.com.au

Tips for taking intendance of your child`due south feet. Data virtually babies' and toddlers' feet, walking, normal development and problems, choosing shoes and more.

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Gait: dove toe, out-toeing, toe walking | Raising Children Network

Gait disorders in children include pigeon toe or in-toeing, out-toeing and toe walking. Near gait disorders don't demand treatment, but it's best to come across a GP.

Read more on raisingchildren.cyberspace.au website