Preventable foot ailments part 5: flat foot

I know you are thinking to your self, flat foot isn’t that a slang word for cop? Well yes it is, but I am actually talking about feet that are flat. Other wise called overpronation, or fallen arches. Wikipedia defines flat feet as “a medical condition in which the arch of the foot collapses, with the entire sole of the foot coming into complete or near-complete contact with the ground. In some individuals (an estimated 20-30% of the general population) the arch simply never develops in one foot (unilaterally) or both feet (bilaterally). It should be noted that being flatfooted does not decrease foot speed; having flat feet does not affect one's response to the Plantar reflex test; and horses also develop flat feet.”

There are two kinds of flat feet, flexible and rigid. Here is how you tell the difference. If a youth or adult appears flatfooted while standing in a full weight bearing position, but an arch appears when the person dorsiflexes (stands on tip-toe or pulls the toes back with the rest of the foot flat on the floor), this condition is called flexible flatfoot.

Rigid flat foot on the other hand is often the result of a significant problem affecting the structure or alignment of the bones that make up the foot's arch. Here are some common causes of flat foot:

• Congenital vertical talus: What happens with this condition is the bones are not aligned properly causing there to be no arch.
• Tarsal coalition (peroneal spastic flatfoot): This is an in hereditary condition where two or more of the foot bones are fused together. This fusing interferes with the flexibility of the foot and eliminating the normal arch.
• Lateral sub talar dislocation (or acquired flat foot): This condition happens in someone who had a normal arch and the talus bone (located in the arch of the foot) slips out of place and the foot arch collapses. This condition happens suddenly due to injury.

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons says you should see your doctor if flat feet are causing any of these conditions:

• Feet that tire easily, or become painful after standing for long periods.
• Problems standing on your toes, or moving your heel or the middle of your foot.
• Pain in the heel or arch, or swelling along the inside of the foot.
• Inability to exercise or play sports because of foot pain.
• Foot pain and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). About half of people with RA develop a worsening flat-foot deformity.

I heard somewhere that many runners suffer from flat foot, but I wasn’t sure if it was true. So I did a little research, and by gum, yes running can cause flat foot. When running the mechanical imbalance is heightened due to the increased forces being applied to the body. When running overpronation happens because there is excessive mobility in the sub-taler joint (lower ankle joint) of the foot, which causes hyper mobility of the foot. The increased mobility causes the medial arch to flatten out and causes the foot to roll in too much while walking and running. This may also explain why we call beat cops flat feet.

For runners the solution to their flat-footed needs is simple. Buy running shoes (or insoles) that have a good arch support system. Other solutions for flat foot can be anything from insoles for your shoes to surgery. If you are experiencing pain from flat foot please see a doctor right away to find the best solution for you.

As always Takkens.com can help you find the right shoes for you!

If you would like to read my other posts about foot problems and their solutions please click on the links below:

Bunions
Hammer toe
Plantar Fasciitis
Heel Spurs
Flat foot
Calluses, Corns, and warts
Gout