People with flat feet, fallen arches, have either no arch in their feet or one that is very low. There is usually a gap beneath the inner part of the foot when a person stands, as the arch raises off the ground slightly.
Flat feet only need treatment if they cause discomfort such as pain, difficulty weight bearing, standing, walking or playing sports.
Pain or other symptoms indicate an underlying disorder, or lead to pain elsewhere in the body such as your knees or lower back. Some people appear to have a very low arch or no arch without ever experiencing problems.
When flat feet do cause symptoms, simple devices such as orthotics and exercises can help to reduce the discomfort and pain.
The most common symptom of flat feet is pain over:
Common causes of flat feet include:
Children and infants may often appear to have flat feet. This is because the arch is still forming. In time, the arch should develop normally as the child grows and spends more time in weight bearing: standing and walking.
Having feet that appear flat during early childhood does not mean that a person will always have flat feet. If a child has flat feet as a result of incorrect bone development or another condition, such as spina bifida, a child specialist should be consulted for guidance.
Anyone with the following symptoms should see a Physiotherapist
For more information on how we can further assist you, please call our clinic number on 0479 080 800 or send us an email on [email protected] for further details. Our Physiotherapists are Medicare, NDIS, DVA and Work Cover approved, specialising in injury management and rehabilitation to get you back on track.
