Overview
You have flat feet when the arches on the inside of your feet are flattened, allowing the entire soles of your feet to touch the floor when you stand up.
A common and usually painless condition, flat feet can occur when the arches don’t develop during childhood. In other cases, flat feet develop after an injury or from the simple wear-and-tear stresses of age.
Flat feet can sometimes contribute to problems in your ankles and knees because the condition can alter the alignment of your legs. If you aren’t having pain, no treatment is usually necessary for flat feet.
Symptoms
Most people have no signs or symptoms associated with flat feet. But some people with flat feet experience foot pain, particularly in the heel or arch area. Pain may worsen with activity. Swelling along the inside of the ankle can also occur.
When to see a doctor
Talk to your doctor if you or your child has foot pain.
Causes
A flat foot is normal in infants and toddlers, because the foot’s arch hasn’t yet developed. Most people’s arches develop throughout childhood, but some people never develop arches. This is a normal variation in foot type, and people without arches may or may not have problems.
Some children have flexible flat foot, in which the arch is visible when the child is sitting or standing on tiptoes, but disappears when the child stands. Most children outgrow flexible flat foot without problems.
Arches can also fall over time. Years of wear and tear can weaken the tendon that runs along the inside of your ankle and helps support your arch.
Risk factors
Factors that can increase your risk of flat feet include:
- Obesity
- Injury to your foot or ankle
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Aging
- Diabetes
Treatment
No treatment is necessary for flat feet if they don’t cause pain.
Therapy
If your flat feet are painful, your doctor might suggest:
- Arch supports (orthotic devices). Over-the-counter arch supports may help relieve the pain caused by flat feet. Or your doctor might suggest custom-made orthotics, which are molded to the contours of your feet. Arch supports won’t cure flat feet, but they often reduce symptoms.
- Stretching exercises. Some people with flat feet also have a shortened Achilles tendon. Exercises to stretch this tendon may help.
- Supportive shoes. A structurally supportive shoe might be more comfortable than sandals or shoes with minimal support.
- Physiotherapy. Flat feet may contribute to overuse injuries in some runners. A physiotherapist can do a video analysis of how you run to help you improve your form and technique.