How Can I Tell if I Have Flat Feet

Flat feet, or "fallen arches", are where your feet press apartment on the ground. They're common and usually nothing to worry about.

Check if you have flat anxiety

To run into if you accept apartment feet, bank check the inner sides of your anxiety while yous're standing up.

If you have flat feet, your feet volition be flat on the ground.

You do not have apartment feet if the inside office of your human foot is raised off the ground (this is called the curvation).

Flat feet exercise not usually need to be treated

You do not need to practice anything if you or your child accept flat feet and they're not causing any problems.

Well-nigh children accept apartment feet until they're nigh 6 years of age. After this time, they usually develop an curvation.

Flat anxiety:

• do not normally cause whatever bug
• should non cease you doing any activities, including sports
• are rarely a sign of anything serious

Merely sometimes, you may take pain around your ankle or the arch of your foot may ache. Your shoes may also habiliment out quickly.

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if you lot accept apartment feet and:

• your anxiety are painful, stiff, weak or numb
• y'all often go feet or ankle injuries
• you have problems with walking or balance
• you did not have flat anxiety before
• it only affects 1 foot

These problems mean y'all might need handling.

Information:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) update: how to contact a GP

It'south withal of import to get help from a GP if yous need it. To contact your GP surgery:

• visit their website
• use the NHS App
• call them

Observe out near using the NHS during COVID-19

Treatments for flat feet

If flat feet are causing problems and yous demand treatment, a GP may refer you to a specialist like a podiatrist or physiotherapist.

Referral to a specialist is not available everywhere and waiting times tin be long.

Your GP might be able to give yous advice virtually paying to see a specialist privately.

A foot specialist can offer communication about:

• what shoes to wear (wide, comfy shoes with a low heel are ordinarily best)
• shoe insoles to support your feet
• foot stretches and exercises
• painkillers

These volition non change the shape of your feet, but can help with things similar pain or stiffness.

Surgery for flat feet

Surgery is rarely needed for apartment anxiety.

It might help if in that location'south a problem with the bones, tissues or muscles in your feet and other treatments have not worked.

Your GP may refer you to a surgeon if they think surgery might help.

Causes of flat anxiety

There'south ofttimes no obvious cause for flat feet. It might only exist the way your feet are.

Sometimes apartment feet run in families.

Rarely, flat anxiety may be caused by:

• the bones in the feet not growing properly in the womb
• stretching of the tissues in your feet (peradventure as a result of things like an injury, getting older or beingness overweight)
• conditions affecting the muscles, nerves or joints in the whole body similar cerebral palsy and spina bifida

Page last reviewed: 24 January 2022
Next review due: 24 Jan 2025

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Source: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/flat-feet/

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