Flat Feet
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Benjamin Van Pham, DPM
Podiatrist located in Roseville, CA & Lincoln, CA
Flat feet affect approximately 12% of adults in the United States, making it a fairly common condition. While not necessarily dangerous, flat feet can lead to a number of issues as your body compensates for the loss of support, which is where Dr. Benjamin Van Pham, DPM, comes in. Little known fact that flat feet can can cause pain and arthritis in the knees, hips and lower back. If your flat feet are causing you pain or joint problems, call one of the two locations in Roseville or Lincoln, California, or schedule an appointment online.
Flat Feet Q & A
What are flat feet?
As the name implies, flat feet is a condition where you have no support in your arches, allowing the entire sole of your foot to rest on the ground. There are several types of flat feet, including:
Flexible flatfoot
This form of the condition usually starts in childhood, when your arches first develop. If your arches don’t develop properly, you may have a limited arch or no arch at all, which causes your ankles to roll inward.
This condition is called “flexible” because you may appear to have an arch when you’re not putting weight on your foot, but as soon as you put your foot down, the arch disappears. This condition usually doesn’t cause any pain, but your tendons and ligaments may become stressed over time, which can lead to discomfort.
Adult-acquired flatfoot
This type of flatfoot is a progressive deformity that results from gradual stretching (attenuation) of your posterior tibial tendon, as well as the ligaments that support the arch of your foot. Whatever the cause of your flat feet, if they’re causing problems, there are solutions.
When are flat feet problematic?
Most cases of flat feet don’t present any major problems, but there are times when this condition can cause pain and discomfort in the feet, knees, hips and lower back. For example, your body relies on alignment for optimal function, and if your ankles roll inward because of flat feet, you may feel the effects in your knees and hips as they compensate for the misalignment. As well, flat feet can lead to bunions, hammertoes, and heel pain in the form of plantar fasciitis.
If you have adult-acquired flat feet because of problems in your posterior tibial tendon, you may feel pain in this tendon, which can stretch and tear.
How are flat feet treated?
When you first sit down with Dr. Van Pham, he thoroughly assesses your feet and turns to advanced imaging to get a closer look at what’s going on inside. After reviewing your symptoms, he comes up with a treatment plan that will help you regain pain-free movement.
Dr. Van Pham typically starts out conservatively with custom orthotics, which go a long way toward providing your feet with the support they need.
If your flat feet are severe and they’re hampering your mobility, Dr. Van Pham may recommend an ankle foot orthotics and then reconstructive flat feet surgery.
If your flat feet are causing you pain or limiting your movement, call Dr. Benjamin Van Pham, DPM, or request an appointment using the online scheduling tool.
