Flat feet may seem like a nothing problem unless your feet hurt and your mobility suffers. At Foot & Ankle Wellness Center at Seven Bridges, your podiatrist takes flat feet seriously. Whether your flat feet are acquired or congenital, Dr. Leonard Vekkos can help you in his Woodbridge, IL, office.
What are flat feet?
Typically, the term refers to feet which set on the floor with no space beneath the arches. In other words, the entire sole contacts the floor. Babies, toddlers, and people with Down Syndrome or cerebral palsy usually have flat feet, but as children grow, they usually develop normal arches.
Adults may acquire flat feet--or pens planus--if they are obese and overstretch the tendon on the medial aspect of the foot. This condition is called tibialis posterior tendinitis. Repeated ankle sprains or fractures may lead to flat feet, too, as can gait problems such as inward pronation. Pronation is a repetitive rolling of the foot which stretches the connective tissue (plantar fascia) on the bottom of the foot.
The effects of flat feet are foot, ankle, knee, and hip pain, fatigue, foot stiffness (particularly in the toes, says Harvard Health), and difficulties with ordinary mobility or engaging in your usual sports. The problem can be progressive; so it's wise to seek help as soon as possible from your Woodridge podiatrist.
Countering the effects of flat feet
Surgery, such as ankle fusion to stabilize the wobbly joint, is one option, but only if less invasive strategies don't relieve pain and increase day to day function. More conservative measures include:
- Rest, ice, and elevation of your feet
- Ibuprofen for pain and swelling
- Quality shoes with good support in the arches (no flip flops, cheap sneakers, or going barefoot)
- Steroid injections to relieve inflammation
- The casting of the affected foot and ankle
- Physical therapy
- Custom shoe inserts, or orthotics, to normalize foot and ankle motion and placement
Get some relief
You can move well and feel energized when you seek help for your flat feet. Dr. Leonard Vekkos is the skilled podiatrist to see at Foot & Ankle Wellness Center at Seven Bridges. Why not call his Woodbridge, IL, office to arrange your personalized exam? Phone (630) 852-8522.