When flat feet are the result of injury or age, however, changes in a person’s gait or walking mechanics may result in complications or pain. For people who simply never developed arches, this condition may never present any problems, as their feet are otherwise healthy and flexible. Many people with flat feet never experience any associated problems like pain or discomfort. Larger feet – Having large feet increases a person’s risk of developing flat feet or fallen arches.Running – Long-time runners are more likely to injure the feet and ankles, especially straining the posterior tibial tendon, resulting in flat feet.This inflammation, sustained over time, can result in injury to the ligaments and tendons that form the arch of the foot. Rheumatoid Arthritis – This painful disease can affect the joints of the feet and cause inflammation in the surrounding tissues, ligaments, and tendons.This relaxing hormone, however, can add to the body’s tendency to sustain injuries such as fallen arches or flat feet. This hormone aptly called “relaxin” loosens the joints, ligaments, and muscles in pregnant women to prepare the body for delivery.
In addition to increased wear and tear, pregnancy releases a hormone in women that allows their body to become more flexible, to prepare for the birth of the child. The first is additional weight and wear and tear on the tendons.
Pregnancy – Pregnancy can increase the likelihood of developing flat feet for several reasons.As a result, injuries to the feet are often unknown to the patient until significant problems have developed. Over time, diabetes can damage the nervous system, resulting in a weakened ability for the body to convey messages from the feet to the brain. Diabetes – Diabetes is a disease that affects the blood flow and nerve activity in the body.Obesity - Being overweight can increase a person’s risk for developing flat feet, as the increased weight increases the likelihood of “wear and tear” injuries.Age - As people age, the fat pad on the bottom of their feet tends to wear away and the muscles and tendons in the feet may experience “wear and tear” injuries that combine together to cause flat feet.Damage to the PTT (the posterior tibial tendon) – more common in long-time runners.Injuries that can result in fallen arches include Other people develop arches as a child, but experience injuries that cause the arches to fall over time. Some people, however, never develop an arch or the arch fails to develop to the extent that it should, resulting in flat feet. All babies are born with flat feet and the arch develops before a child is five years old, most of the time. Some people simply never develop an arch as a child. What causes Flat Feet?įlat feet can be a result of genetics, injury, or age. Flat feet only require treatment when they cause discomfort, pain, or interfere with a person’s ability to participate in everyday activities. Flat feet can cause problems with walking, standing for long periods, running, or performing other exercises and activities. Flat feet may be the result of an arch having never developed or it may be caused by an injury or as the result of age.Ī study conducted by the National Foot Health assessment revealed that eight percent of adults in the US have flat feet and/or fallen arches.
Somewhere between two and four years of age, most children will develop an arch that will lift the center, inside part of the foot, what is known as the arch, off the floor, even when standing.įlat feet is the term used to describe when an adult or older child doesn’t have an arch that prevents the entire bottom of the foot from touching the floor when standing. No arches have developed, yet, to lift the arch off the floor.
In a baby or very young child, the entire bottom of the foot is in contact with the floor. When a person is born, the arches of the feet have not fully developed, yet. For others, however, flat feet may cause problems with walking or standing and result in pain in the heel or arch area, or swelling and pain in the ankles. Most people with flat feet experience few or no symptoms or pain. Other times, flat feet are the result of injury or age.įlat feet can contribute to other problems with the legs and ankles, as the condition alters the way a person stands and walks. Sometimes, flat feet are a result of arches having never developed during childhood.
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