When you are suffering from flat feet, you may worry that the condition will get worse and you will have to look to different treatments to make sure that your feet are protected and able to get some of the help that they need. To help out with this, looking at some of the common causes of flat feet and how to tell you to have flat feet can help.
Many individuals will know that they suffer from flat feet, but they may not notice any issues with pain or discomfort at all. In this case, you will not have to worry about looking into treatments and other options at all.
But once there is some pain, it is time to look at what causes flat feet and how to tell if you have flat feet.
What are the Common Causes of Flat Feet?
There are a lot of different things that can cause you to suffer from flat feet if you are not careful. Some of these will include issues like injuries or damage from the past.
You may have some normal wear and tear that you are going through during the day. Outside of normal wear and tear, some of the other issues that can cause flat feet include:
Flat Feet are Common in Those Born with Congenital Abnormalities
Babies are going to be born with flat feet. As the tendons and the muscles start to develop, the feet can change and you may see some arches form as well.
Some children will not grow out of the issue of flat feet. This is a normal variation but could lead to some problems down the line.
Having Tendon Injuries Might Cause One to Have Flat Feet
Your tendons are there to help connect the bones well. If one of them in the foot is injured, then you are going to end up with some problems. Your Achilles tendon will be connected to the posterior tibial tendon and which can connect the ankle to the bottom of the foot and your plantar fascia.
If any of these tendons get inflamed or torn, then other injuries to these tendons could cause the arches to fall. This type of injury is more likely to result in the arches hurting as well, so it is important to be alert to that problem as well.
One Might Get Flat Feet if There Have Been Broken Bones
If you break or dislocate any of the bones found in your foot, it could lead to some problems in the posterior tibial tendon and that can lead to the arches failing. The connective tissue and the bones in the feet are going to all work together to help you move while supporting the body when you are up moving and walking.
If you get an injury of any kind to the foot or the ankle, then this could set off a chain reaction that will lead to other problems, including flat feet. Whether it is a stress fracture or a broken bone, you will find it can affect the feet.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is an Indication of Flat Feet
When we look at Rheumatoid arthritis, is a disease that will start to attack the synovial lining in the joints, the ligaments, and the cartilage, including any of the 30 different joints of the feet. In addition to causing stiffness, swelling, and pain, this arthritis is going to change the shape of the feet, often leading them to turn flat and causing some problems there as well.
Flat Feet Can Be Identified When One Experiences Nerve Damage
And finally, you may find that nerve damage is going to be enough to cause you to develop issues with flat feet. This is often a side effect of unmanaged diabetes.
You can start to lose some of the sensations in the feet and the arch will collapse. This is a condition known as Charcot’s foot.
As the ligaments of the feet start to loosen, which leads to the arches falling as well. The bones will sometimes start to slide out of place, they can fracture, and they may disintegrate on occasion.
You will need to properly manage your diabetes to make sure that you can get the best results and not have to worry about flat feet from nerve damage. The reason for your flat feet can also be as simple as a little bit of wear and tear on them as well. The more time that you spend on your feet, moving around and walking, the more that you have to worry about some of those problems as well.
You should consider some of the best treatments to help you succeed. Rigid and semi-rigid orthotics are not suggested for those with diabetes, due to nerve damage and the possible resulting injury of wearing them.
How to Tell if You Have Flat Feet
Now that we know a bit more about some of the causes of flat feet, it is time for us to take a closer look at some of the ways that you can test to see whether you have flat feet or not. You can either do the work on your own or ask someone else to come and take a look to make sure that your feet are going to be flat or not.
As you are looking at your feet, you should be able to rest them on the ground and there will be a bit of a lift in the inner sole. You can ask a friend to take a look at your feet when you are standing to see if there are any issues. When they look, if they notice that the entire part of the foot is touching the ground, then they have flat feet.
You can also stand on your tiptoes and have someone else take a look at the feet when you do this. If you see an arch there, then the foot is flexible and you are good. But if no arch forms while you are on your toes, then you are suffering from flat feet.
It is also possible to go through and work on checking out your feet on your own. If you have access to an area of clean concrete where you can walk without shoes without getting hurt, then do the footprint test. You can wet your feet with some water and then walk across the concrete.
While doing this, if you have the proper arches, you will find that your footprint will appear partial, with just the ball and the heel of the print connected by a strip on the outer part of it. If you can see the whole imprint of the foot, then you are dealing with an issue of flat feet and may need to look at some solutions to help.
The toe test is another option to choose from as well. You would need to stand with the back to a mirror, feet parallel, and then balance in a way that feels natural to you. Look at the feet in the mirror.
If your arches are good, then you shouldn’t see more than the pinky toe when you go from this angle. If you can see more toes, then your feet are going flat.
Can Orthotics Help My Flat Feet?
When it comes to your flat feet, you may wonder which treatments are going to be the best for your feet. One option that tends to work well, especially if you have some pain and other issues with the feet is custom orthotics. These can lock the foot in place while adding support to the arches, which will give you some of the relief you need.
At URthotics.com, we are here to provide you with the best in custom orthotics, all from the comfort of your own home. We work with some of the best professionals in the business to ensure that your custom orthotic is designed the right way each time, providing you with the comfort and style that you need. Trust us to help you take care of your feet.