What are adult flat feet?
Flat feet are a foot deformity characterized by a fallen arch when standing up. It is to note that people with flat feet can seem to have a normal arch when sitting. Hence, flat feet are evaluated when the person it standing up. Foot function is related to ankle, knee, hips and lower back through a chain of reaction. Therefore, flat feet is not only the cause of many foot problems, but it also causes ankle, knee, hips and lower back pain. It is important to have your feet evaluated if you have pain in these areas.
What causes adult flat feet?
Compared to children’s flat feet, adult flat feet are not necessarily a genetic problem. Indeed, not everyone that has flat feet as an adult had flat feet when they were younger. However, it is quite common to have flat feet as a child and only experience foot, ankle, knee, hips or lower back pain as an adult. Many things can make feet become flatter with time: tendonitis, arthritis, weight gain, injury, improper shoes, and so on.
How to treat adult flat feet?
There is, unfortunately no permanent treatment for flat feet in adults. Indeed, since an adult’s feet are not as malleable as a child’s, it is impossible to permanently correct the deformity. Fortunately, there are many options available to treat the many problems that can occur with flat feet.
1. Supporting flat feet
Your flat feet need support in order to function properly and not cause pain around your joints and tendons. Your podiatrist can give proper support to your feet by prescribing a custom-made plantar orthotic. It does not permanently correct your flat feet, but it reduces related pain and protects your feet, ankle, knee, hips and lower back from the consequences of your flat feet. Your podiatrist can also utilize sport tapping in order to temporarily support your flat feet in order for your body to have time to heal from an injury caused by your flat feet.
2. Strengthening your flat feet
As mentioned previously, your flat feet can injure the tendons of your foot, ankle, knee, hip and lower back. By following a strengthening and stretching program prescribed by your podiatrist, you can relieve your tendon from the excessive pressure coming from your flat feet.
How to treat adult flat feet at home?
While waiting for your podiatric consultation, you can relieve your pain at home by following these steps:
Wear shoes with support
Wear a pair of shoes that will give you proper arch support. Stay away from flexible shoes as they will make your flat feet even worse. Refrain from walking barefoot.
Take some rest
It is difficult not to use our feet on a daily basis, except for physical activity that does not involve any walking or standing up. If you are suffering from flat feet, it is normal to feel pain in your feet, ankles, knees, hips and lower back when you are active. Hence, it is important to reduce your level of activity before suffering from a tendon or joint injury.