Did you know that each of your feet is made up of 26 bones, held together by over 33 joints,
and contain over 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments? Each step that you take involves
all of these parts functioning in perfect harmony. This is why even the smallest injury or
structural flaw can cause discomfort and interfere with your daily activities.
Your feet are the foundation of your body, supporting and balancing your weight and giving
you the ability to move from place to place. When your feet are working properly, the forces
generated by your body, whether you are in motion or simply standing still, are correctly
distributed and absorbed. On the other hand, if any of the intricate parts in your feet are not
working correctly your movements may be affected, including the way you stand, walk, run,
or jump. This can set off a chain reaction that produces muscle and joint pain that extends
upwards through your feet, legs, and back.
According to statistics, seventy-five percent of Americans will experience foot health
problems of varying degrees of severity at one time or another in their lives. Any one or a
number of factors ranging from diseases, injuries, deformities, biomechanical conditions, to
improper footwear, can cause these problems.
One of the most common and well-known deformities of the lower extremities is flat feet.
They occur when the arches of your feet (the insteps) are either partially or completely
collapsed. This condition puts the soles of your feet, the plantar surface, in complete or
near complete contact with the ground when you stand up as well as when you move from
place to place. Under ideal circumstances the inner part of your foot should be slightly
raised off the ground displaying a small gap when in a standing position. If flat feet, also
known as fallen arches are present, the alignment of your legs can be slightly altered. For
some individuals this can lead to pain and other problems in the feet, ankles, legs, knees,
hips, and the lower back. Although some people are born with certain bone and joint
malformations that cause flat feet, others can develop the condition over time due to
overuse, faulty foot biomechanics, a traumatic injury, or as a consequence of specific
diseases.
The purpose of arches in your feet is to add springiness and flexibility to your midfoot. This
helps your foot generate the strength to push off with movement, to distribute your weight,
to absorb the shock of contacting the ground, and to assist with balance. In addition to
these functions, the arch of each foot acts as an energy store to support activities like
walking, running, or jumping.
Although babies and young children have flat feet, the vast majority will outgrow them as
the arches in their feet develop. However, it is estimated that upwards of 60 million
American adults have flat feet. The good news is that not everyone with fallen arches will
experience pain or other symptoms. The consequences of flat feet vary from person to
person, and generally depend on the severity of the condition. It is only when the body fails
to adequately compensate for this deformity that the connecting ligaments, tendons, as
well as muscles are strained and symptoms develop.
If you or your child has foot pain, it is a good idea to see your podiatrist for a thorough
evaluation and treatment. This is the best way to prevent any additional and potentially
debilitating complications from flat feet or other foot disorders from developing. Your
podiatrist can provide you with the most suitable and therapeutic treatment options to
stabilize the causes of your flat feet, help to restore and improve the function of your feet, to
alleviate any associated symptoms, and to restore your sense of overall well being.
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