Switch to हिंदी

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Diet | Pregnancy & Parenting | Diseases & Home Remedies | TheHealthSite.com

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Diet | Pregnancy & Parenting | Diseases & Home Remedies | TheHealthSite.com

हिंदी
  • Health A-Z
  • Diabetes
  • Diseases
    • Type 1 Diabetes
    • Type 2 Diabetes
    • Cancer
    • Heart Attack
    • Pneumonia
    • Diseases A-Z
  • Diet & Fitness
    • Weight Management
    • Exercise & Body Building
    • Diet & Recipes
    • Yoga
  • Coronavirus
  • News
  • Pregnancy
    • Conceiving
    • Infertility
    • Labour & Delivery
    • Pregnancy week-by-week
    • Breastfeeding
    • Baby Names
  • Beauty
    • Skin
    • Hair
    • Grooming
  • Photos
  • Videos
Home / Diseases & Conditions / What are flat feet?

What are flat feet?

Flat feet also known as a fallen arch, is a condition where a person does not have an arch in the middle of his/her feet.

By: Pavitra Sampath   | | Updated: March 25, 2015 12:43 pm
Tags: Bone and joint disease  Foot  

pain in heelFlat feet also known as a fallen arch, is a condition where a person does not have an arch in the middle of his/her feet. Tendons present in this area are responsible for pulling up the area to form the arch of the foot. When these tendons do not function properly it leads to the falling of the arch and formation of a flat foot. Also Read - Ayurvedic treatment for osteoarthritis: Herbs that can help

Flat Feet vs arched feetA flat foot is fairly common and is seen in children and adults alike. The symptoms of the condition include, pain in the feet – especially in the area of the arch, backache that is localized at the lower or mid back, ankle pain and in some cases pain behind the legs. A classic sign of this condition is the inability to stand on ones toes, which is caused due to weak muscles of the arch and those associated with it. (Read: Diabetic foot: Causes, treatment and care) Also Read - People with psoriasis can also get joint disease: The connection explained



Flat foot printDiagnosing this condition is extremely simple. All you need to do is look at the shape of the underside of your feet. Another method is to look at the imprint of your feet. If you notice a complete foot print (with the part where the arch forms being present in the foot print like in figure 3) you most likely have a flat foot. Apart from self diagnosis your doctor will most likely like to identify the cause of this condition. Apart from that he/she will perform certain simple physical exams like looking at your walking patterns to check for disproportionate weight distribution and making you stand on your toes. He/she will also check for the health of the associated muscles like the Achilles tendon and muscles around the ankles. You may also be required to have an X-ray and MRI done for better diagnosis. Also Read - This is how you can get rid of foot odour

The causes of this condition are many; they include genetic predisposition, injury to the tendons of the feet, fractures or dislocation of the ankle bones and inflammation of the tendons around the ankle or other factors include obesity, diabetes, age and pregnancy.

Once diagnosed the treatment options are mainly symptomatic and include pain relief with the help of muscle relaxants, cold fomentation to the area to reduce swelling, wearing foot wear that has an inbuilt arch, inclusion of orthotic footwear or braces and physiotherapy. Apart from this the surgical options include:

  • Tendon transfer: The tendons attached to the arch are shortened /tightened to help the formation of the arch.
  • Arthrodesis: Fusing the bones of the ankle and foot.
  • Synovectomy: Removal of the pretective covering of the tendon.
  • Excision: Removal of excess bone growth, also known as spurs.
  • Lateral column lengthening: Where bone is grafted into the foot in order to make the tendons rise more naturally.

Apart from all this, in children, regular stretching exercises that strengthen the muscles can help in formation of the arch. In the case of adults there are some home remedies you can try. If you have severe pain, try soaking your feet in a bucket of warm water with salt and ajwain. This will help reduce the pain and inflammation. Avoid wearing high heels and modify the shoes you wear to suit your feet. Finally, visiting a physiotherapist to learn exercises that can strengthen the tendons of your feet, is a good idea. (Read: Revealed: Why Indians have weaker bones than Americans and Britons)

Image source: foot-and-ankle-institute.com

For more articles, visit our Diseases and Conditions Section and for videos check out our YouTube Channel. Don’t miss out on the latest updates. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus.

Published : December 10, 2013 11:14 am | Updated:March 25, 2015 12:43 pm
Read Disclaimer

Is your child really ready for preschool?

Is your child really ready for preschool?

Unable to sleep properly? Your bedroom might be the problem!

Unable to sleep properly? Your bedroom might be the problem!

Please Wait. Article Loading ....

Coronavirus Updates

Coronavirus Updates

Stay Informed, Be Safe

  • Almost 30% of recovered COVID-19 patients develop complications within 5 months, over 12% die
  • COVID-19 vaccine side effects: Loss of sensation in arms and more reported by Pune health workers
  • Catastrophic moral failure: WHO warns against unequal COVID-19 vaccine distribution
  • COVID-19 Live Updates: Cases in India surge to 10,571,773 while death toll reaches 1,52,419
  • Vegetarians are at lesser risk of getting infected by Covid-19 virus: Study

Health Calculators

BMI Calculator
bmi Calculator
Ideal Body Weight
ideal body weight
Daily Calorie Intake
Daily calorie intake
Calories Burned
calories burned

Related Stories

Ayurvedic treatment for osteoarthritis: Herbs that can help

Ayurvedic treatment for osteoarthritis: Herbs that can help

Experiencing leg pain? 8 natural ways to relieve tired legs and feet

Experiencing leg pain? 8 natural ways to relieve tired legs and feet

Foot deformity: Natural ways to treat bunions without surgery

Foot deformity: Natural ways to treat bunions without surgery

Smelly feet: Scientists develop new socks to prevent the embarrassing condition

Smelly feet: Scientists develop new socks to prevent the embarrassing condition

Want a solution for your high blood sugar levels? Try foot refloxology

Want a solution for your high blood sugar levels? Try foot refloxology

Health News in Hindi

Bird Flu: उत्‍तर प्रदेश सरकार ने हटाया पोल्‍ट्री उत्‍पादों से बैन, चिकन-अंडे पर अब नहीं होगी रोक

सर्दी और बुखार में भी लगेगी कोरोना वैक्सीन? जानें कितनी जरूरी है बुखार के मरीजों के लिए वैक्सीन

WHO ने जताई नाराजगी, कहा- “पहले युवाओं को नहीं बल्कि बुजुर्गों को लगनी चाहिए कोरोना वैक्‍सीन”

Covid-19 Vaccine Side Effects: महाराष्ट्र में कोविडशील्ड का टीका लेने वाले 7 लोग अस्पताल में भर्ती, दिखें ये साइड-इफेक्ट्स

LIVE Covid-19 Live Updates: भारत में कोरोना के मरीजों की संख्या हुई 1,05,81,837 अब तक 1,52,556 लोगों की मौत

Read All

Recent Posts

  • Almost 30% of recovered COVID-19 patients develop complications within 5 months, over 12% die
  • Bird flu in India: Natural and Ayurvedic tips to keep yourself safe from avian influenza
  • COVID-19 vaccine side effects: Loss of sensation in arms and more reported by Pune health workers
  • Mitral regurgitation: How advanced technologies provide a glimmer of hope for patients
  • Catastrophic moral failure: WHO warns against unequal COVID-19 vaccine distribution

About The health Site

TheHealthSite.com is India's largest health site with more than 40 lakh unique visitors per month. We focus on fitness, beauty, health, pregnancy and more.

Most popular health and wellness website in India in 2012 at the Website of the year awards.

health@corp.india.com
+91 – 22 – 6697 1234
Landline Phone number 91 – 22 – 2490 0302.

ZEE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES LTD, 18th floor, A-Wing, Marathon Futurex, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013.

Useful Links

  • Weight Loss
  • Keto Diet Tips
  • Skin Care Tips
  • Intermittent Fasting
  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Ashwagandha
  • Cancer
  • Pneumonia
  • Diarrhoea
  • Dengue
  • Typhoid
  • Tuberculosis
  • Chickenpox
  • Chikungunya
  • Depression
  • Hepatitis
  • Diabetes
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Arthritis
  • Swine Flu
  • Baby Names
  • Cough and cold
  • Heart Attack
  • Breast Cancer
  • Ebola Virus
  • Dengue
  • Malaria
  • International Yoga Day
  • Hypotension
  • Heart Failure
  • Asthma
  • Brain Tumour
  • Celebrity Fitness
  • Goitre
  • HIV/AIDS

We respect your privacy

  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Author Profiles

Copyright © 2021 Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved.