Most people expect aging to bring more wrinkles and health challenges. What they may not expect are other changes like their feet becoming flatter.
Our highly skilled team at Advanced Care Foot and Ankle in Corona and Ontario, California provide state-of-the-art foot and ankle care for a wide range of chronic and acute problems. With a patient-centric philosophy, we answer all questions, create personalized treatment plans, and follow up to ensure a complete recovery.
We also treat and help educate our patients on health conditions such as flat feet including why the condition could emerge in adulthood and how best to treat it.
Typically adults have arches in their feet between the heel and ball of the foot. They bear the body's weight and help absorb the shock of walking and running.
However, we are not born with this foot shape. Babies have flat feet until early childhood when the tendons that hold the joints of the foot together tighten and create the arch.
About 20 percent of people never have their arches form while others may have flat feet develop in adulthood. There are several reasons this may occur.
As we age tendons and ligaments become weaker and may no longer be able to hold up the arch. This can change the size and shape of the foot causing it to flatten and grow longer. When this happens often people find their feet increase by half a size or even more.
Inflammation or a tear in the arch-supporting tendon can cause an arch to fall as can other injuries such as a broken bone.
Genetics play a role in how high a person's arch is as well as whether they might get flat feet later in life. If you have relatives who have developed flat feet as adults, you may be at risk.
Diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis can contribute to having flat feet as can being obese.
Many people with flat feet have no symptoms while others can experience pain in their arch, heel, ankle or area outside of the foot. Leg cramps and aching or tired muscles in the foot or leg are other signs. Flat feet can also change the gait when walking and cause the toes to point outward.
A diagnosis of flat feet is usually made by a doctor who listens to the individual's symptoms and examines their feet, arches, heels, and toes. They also conduct an evaluation through a variety of movements like standing and walking and by looking at the bottom of their shoes. X-rays, a CT scan or an MRI may be advised to rule out a medical condition such as arthritis.
For those who suffer from symptoms, treatments include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications along with rest and ice to help decrease pain and inflammation. Physical therapy and supportive devices like foot orthotics may also be recommended.
Whether you've always had flat feet or your arches have fallen in adulthood, we can help with a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Click to book an appointment or call the Corona office at 951-735-8806 or the Ontario office at 909-983-5710.