Cause
Here are a few reasons that could lead to flat feet syndrome:
Tarsal coalition: This is a condition that develops during early childhood
wherein an abnormal fusing of some foot bones makes the foot stiffer and quite flat.
Tibialis posterior or tendon dysfunction: In this condition a large ankle tendon can
degenerate causing it to stretch and cease working correctly. It can be an
unexplained condition in many patients, in others it can be due to minor injuries.
Overweight: Excessive laxity in the joints due to sudden weight gain
could also be a possible cause. Here are 12 shocking reasons why you are putting on
weight.
Arthritis: Especially if it occurs in the back or middle of the foot, it
could be really painful. It can be caused by an injury or develop with no real
explanation and lead to flat feet.
Should you
worry if you have flat feet?
In many people, if flat feet have been present since teenage years it may simply be
the way their foot is shaped and entirely normal. In these cases both feet are often
the same. There are many so-called foot specialists who might point out that these
people suffer from fallen arches or flat feet. However, one should be very cautious
and get checked by a specialist before acting on such advices. Having a longstanding
flat foot can be perfectly normal.
Symptoms
Here are some symptoms of flat feet:
- Pain during walking, especially along the inner
border of the feet and ankle.
- Difficulty in running due to pain.
- Swelling on the insides of the ankle.
- Tingling or numbness on the insides or sole of the
foot because of nerves being stretched or compressed.
When
should one worry about flat feet?
If you notice that only one foot is affected or has fallen flat as compared to the
other, it may be an abnormal condition and need medical attention. If your foot
shape changes over time, i.e., if you had normal arches and then the foot flattens
then there is likely an abnormality. If you develop such abnormality, there are
chances that you might experience pain in that particular foot often. People
complain of discomfort in the affected foot after exercise or excessive wear and
tear. However, in some rare cases, one might have quite a stiff foot since
childhood, which during adulthood can become increasingly painful. This could be an
abnormally flat foot.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is based on an accurate history or by taking a detailed account of
symptoms from the patient. Examining the foot for pain and swelling can
differentiate a normal and abnormal flat
foot. X-rays can display the overall shape of the flat foot. They can also
diagnose arthritis as a feature of the flat foot. An MRI scan is
useful to determine whether the tendon is working normally and also if there are any
abnormal bony fusions.
What are
the different stages of flat feet?
Problems related to flat feet are classified into different stages and these stages
define what sort of treatment can be carried out to solve the problem.
Stage one: In this stage there is inflammation of the tendon but no obvious
deformity. Diagnosis is made during a physical examination and confirmed by
ultrasound or MRI.
Stage two: The severity of the flat foot is
increasingly evident in this stage. However, the foot doesn’t appear to be stiff or
arthritic.
Stage three: The condition becomes increasingly painful as it reaches
to this stage and might have led to stiffness and arthritis in the hind foot.
Stage four: This stage indicates that you need help to get back on
your feet. The arthritis would have spread to the ankle joint and this could make it
painful and unbearable at times.
Treatment
There are both non-surgical and surgical options to treat flat foot
syndrome.
The non-surgical options: If the affected foot is flat but flexible then it
can be treated with simple insoles and physiotherapy. The idea is to support the
foot to stop it from getting worse. But unfortunately the arch would be permanently
flat without the insoles. For a more active person like an athlete this treatment
may not be satisfactory. In this case, surgery to re-create the arch can be
performed to correct the condition. Here is how physiotherapy works to relieve your
symptoms.
The surgical options: Surgery is sometimes required if the condition
is more severe. The following procedures may be considered:
The calcaneal osteotomy: Sometimes known as the ‘heel shift’, this
procedure involves moving the calcaneam, the large bone at the back of the heel
which is out of alignment, re- positioning it and then securing the bone using
screws. This procedure can at times be done in a minimally invasive way.
A tendon transfer: This is considered if the tibialis posterior
tendon is severely damaged. A tendon is taken from one of the lesser toes, which is
then transferred to run behind the medial malleolus. This does not affect the
function of the toes and patients make a full recovery.
Fusion: At the final stages (stage 3 and stage 4) of adult flat foot,
the fusion of joints needs to be considered in order to effectively eliminate pain.
When
should you go under the knife to treat flat feet?
Many patients are simply seeking advice on managing a problem. If you have an
abnormal flat foot, it will never be solved without surgery. You
can manage it with special insoles and physiotherapy but it can still get worse.
Specially made shoes can be an attractive option, if your lifestyle is less active
than others. Surgery is successful in over 80% of patients and is worth discussing
with your surgeon.
Home
Remedies
In the case of adults there are some home remedies you can try.
- If you have severe pain, try soaking your feet in a
bucket of warm water with salt and ajwain. This will help reduce the pain and
inflammation.
- Avoid wearing high heels and modify the shoes you
wear to suit your feet.
- Finally, visiting a physiotherapist to learn
exercises that can strengthen the tendons of your feet, is a good idea.