Get Effective Flat Feet Treatment in The Woodlands, Texas
Do you have foot pain and wonder whether it is caused by a collapsed arch? Flat feet are a condition that can cause exhibiting pain and discomfort enough to stop you in your trails. Losing arch support can cause additional problems in your knees, ankles, hips, and back. Fortunately, there is an effective treatment for flat feet. The experienced podiatrists at Foot and Ankle Specialists provide effective flat feet diagnosis and treatment in children, teens, and adults. For more inquiries about flat feet The Woodlands, call the office or book an appointment online.
What Are the Causes of Flat Feet?
Flat feet occur when the arch that usually supports your foot entirely or partially collapses. There are three types of flat feet:
- Pediatric Flat Feet
Kids naturally have flat feet for up to six years before the bones develop enough to create strong arches. However, some kids don’t grow normal arches, and their feet remain flat. This mostly occurs if the kids inherit an abnormal bone structure.
- Flexible Flat Feet
This type of flat feet starts during childhood or teenage years. The condition goes on to become worse with time. You can know you have flexible flat feet if your arches are visible when sitting but disappear when standing.
- Adult-Acquired Flat Feet
This condition happens when a disease or injury affects your arches. Arthritis and foot fractures can result in arch issues. Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD) is the most common cause of adult-acquired flat feet. The posterior tendon helps to support the arch. Therefore, if the tendon becomes inflamed or injured, it won’t be able to stabilize the arch resulting in adult-acquired flat feet.
You can also develop adult-acquired flat feet if you gain excess weight. Gaining excess weight affects your stance. It causes your ankles to turn inward, which stretches the tendons, joints, and ligaments.
Signs And Symptoms of Flat Feet?
Kids don’t have flat feet symptoms unless they still have it, even at six or seven. In this case, they can experience tenderness or pain and find it hard to wear shoes. On the other hand, adult-acquired flat feet can cause pain from the start. Common causes of flat feet include; foot and leg fatigue, ankle pain, arch and heel pain, difficulty walking, knee and lower back pain, and pain that worsen during high-impact activities. The pain is not limited to your foot. Other tendons, joints, and ligaments bear more stress to compensate for foot changes which is why people with flat feet have knee, ankle, hip, or back pain.
What Are the Available Flat Feet Treatments?
When you visit a flat feet specialist, he starts by examining the severity of your condition. Your appropriate treatment will depend on how severely collapsed your feet’ arches are. The common treatments often include; braces, orthotics, immobilization, medication, physical therapy, weight loss, and footwear changes. However, if your flat foot still causes you pain even after the conservative treatments, the doctor might recommend surgery.
Do not keep struggling with a painful flat foot when there is an effective and affordable treatment available. Call or book an appointment online with the Foot and Ankle Specialists of The Woodlands.
