Your feet tend to act as a foundation for your whole body. Poor foot strength and alignment can have an effect on the way that you hold your body and sometimes can also be a cause for injuries. One of the most well-known reasons for foot misalignment and pain is a condition called flat feet, otherwise called fallen arches.
Your feet are composed of 26 bones and over hundreds of ligaments, tendons and muscles. The part of your foot that incorporates the arches is referred to as the midfoot, which provides support for your entire foot. The experts at 1 Health Medical Centre through this article points out to the various causes of flat feet and how they can be treated.
Common Causes of Flat Feet
Flat feet are one of the causes of ankle and foot pain. In some cases, it starts right from childhood if your feet don’t properly develop. This can often be found in young children but they usually outgrow it. Although some people may be more prone to have flat feet because of genetics, others may develop flat feet over time. Here are some of the most common causes of flat feet:
Obesity: a common reason, as it gets more difficult for the bones in your feet to bear more weight
Age: Flat feet are mostly observed in people over the age of 40.
High blood pressure: Can cause a reduction in the blood flow to your feet
Dealing with stress fractures or other previous injuries to the feet.
Arthritis
Diabetes
Damage to any of the tendons or bones in your feet
Effect of flat feet on your overall health
Most people dealing with flat feet feel affected by numerous aspects of their overall health. As flat feet, or fallen arches fail to provide the support your foot needs, you’re bound to experience pain in your foot. Plantar fasciitis is another condition that is common in people with flat feet as well. This generally occurs as a result of tendons in the feet getting overstretched. This may result in severe pain in the feet, particularly in the morning.
Another condition called overpronation can also occur in people dealing with flat feet. In such cases, the ankles roll inward while you’re walking. This can also cause ankle and foot pain. As your feet play the role of supporting your entire body, having overpronation and flat feet can cause problems with your spinal alignment. This may also result in problems with your lower back, hips and knees.
Treatments for flat feet
The worst part about having flat feet is that it never completely goes away. Whether your arches fall with age, or you were born with flat feet, it’s not a reversible condition. However, the best you can do is to find ways to manage the pain or even learn to prevent some part of it.
The best treatments for flat feet help in strengthening your ankles and feet and providing the support that is lost by fallen arches. Some of the treatments recommended by our expert orthopedists at 1 Health Medical Centre include the following:
Usage of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Most of these medications are available over the counter and include drugs like naproxen sodium and ibuprofen.
Appropriate nutrition and exercise.
Physical therapy to strengthen your ankles and feet.
Wearing the correct type of shoes is essential for people with flat feet. People with flat feet can use orthotic inserts in their shoes, these help in correcting the position of your foot and also help in the correction of overall posture.
Wearing a splint or brace.
If you’re dealing with pain caused by flat feet, there are some simple treatments available that can often make the condition more livable. Our expert orthopaedics at 1 Health Medical Centre have helped patients with the same issues and have helped them find relief! Let us help you find the solution that works best for you. Call (9562090606) today to find help for your ankle and foot problems.
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