subject: What Kind of Flat Feet do you have? [print this page] What Kind of Flat Feet do you have? What Kind of Flat Feet do you have?
We've all talked about our own or someone else's feet referring to them as "flat" but what does this actually mean? Research suggests that almost 70% of feet can be classified as flat, in varying degrees! Hopefully, this brief blurb sheds some light on this very common foot type.
In the clinic we refer to flat feet as "Pes Planus" which is Latin and directly translates to "Foot Flat". There are a number of different diagnoses we give to Pes Planus in the Podiatry clinic. The most common type is the Compensatory Pes Planus which is when the foot rolls inwards or "pronates" to compensate for a malfunction further up the body (ie. the ankle, knee, hip, back, shoulders or neck). Treating Compensatory Pes Planus requires a thorough knowledge of the workings of these joints and muscles, a term known as Biomechanics. If left untreated, this can become another type of flat foot referred to as Adult Acquired Pes Planus. As the name suggests, this is simply an arthritic position acquired by long term flattening of the foot into later life. This can become debilitating, significantly contributing to falls in the elderly.
Another type of Flat Foot is Congenital Pes Planus which occurs when there is an improper alignment of bones or joints in the foot or ankle during a baby's development within the womb. Although flatter feet in babies and toddlers is often normal, there are some instances when treatment should be sought. One of the most severe forms of Congenital Pes Planus is Club Foot which requires diagnosis and intervention immediately after birth. With this condition the rearfoot actually rolls outwards but in mild and untreated cases the forefoot will pronate to level the foot out for balance upon walking. This has significant consequences to performance in school sport and into the teenage years. Another common but far less severe form of Congenital Pes Planus is due to Metatarsus Adductus where the bones of the forefoot are positioned too far towards the midline of the body resulting in a "pigeon toed" position on standing. If you have any concerns about your child's feet speak to a Podiatrist.
Other causes of Flat Feet include:
Pregnancy or Hormonal changes
Arthritis
Obesity
Muscle or nerve disorders
Ankle or Foot Fractures
Flat feet are conservatively (no surgery) treated with orthotic innersoles like Docpods orthotics. Orthotic innersoles support the arches and relieve the repetitive stress placed on the foot by over pronation.
