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Flat Feet services offered in Henderson, NV
Flat Feet FAQs
What are flat feet?
People with flat feet (pes planus) have an abnormally low arch or no arch at all — instead, the soles of their feet are flat to the ground. People with this condition may have feet that point outward when walking or standing.
There’s no need to worry about flat feet unless you experience foot pain or other problems that flat feet could aggravate. If you have questions about the effect flat feet may have on your other foot conditions, talk to the experts at Las Vegas Foot and Ankle Centers.
Why would I have flat feet?
Children often have flat feet because arches only develop as they get older. But some people don’t ever develop arches, and others have arches that fall (collapse) over time. Flat feet risk factors include:
- Family history (flat feet often run in families)
- Foot abnormalities
- Arthritis
- Cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy
- Pregnancy
- Weak arches
People with flat feet have little or no space between their feet and the ground when they stand. When seated, the arch returns to people with flexible flat feet but not those with rigid flat feet.
People with flat feet tend to roll them inward when standing or walking. As a result, your shoes will wear more on the inside of the soles near the heel. You can probably rock the shoe easily from side to side.
How are flat feet treated?
If you have flat feet, but they don’t cause any problems, you won’t require treatment. However, your flat feet may be responsible if you develop foot or ankle pain.
Orthotics (supportive shoe inserts) can resolve most flatfoot pain. They relieve pressure from the arch and release tension that could be causing discomfort. Your Las Vegas Foot and Ankle Centers podiatrist may also recommend inserting a wedge in the inside edge of your shoe to decrease pressure on the tendon.
In rare cases, the arch’s tendon can rupture and require surgical intervention. Reconstructive foot surgery repositions your tendons and fuses joints to realign the foot. An alternative is a subtalar implant — a metal insert that your surgeon puts in the back of your foot to support the arch.
