Dealing with aching, sore feet? It could be flat feet.
Many people with flat feet, or fallen arches, don’t even know that they have it; however, if you start to notice regular foot pain then you may wonder what’s going on. If you haven’t sustained an injury and you aren’t overworking your feet, then this persistent pain could be a sign of flat feet. While our West Houston, TX, foot and ankle doctors will be able to diagnose your flat feet with a simple physical exam, you can tell whether you have flat feet with this simple test.
- Get your feet wet (or simply try this after getting out of the shower)
- Step onto a flat, hard surface (no carpet or rug)
- Step off and look at the watery footprint left behind
When you have normal arches in your feet, they won’t leave behind an impression (you’ll only notice the toes, heel, and balls of the foot); however, if you have flat feet you will see a complete impression of your foot.
What’s the problem with flat feet?
If you aren’t experiencing pain or other issues then you may not need to do anything, even if you do have flat feet; however, some people with flat feet also develop unpleasant symptoms such as:
- Persistent or recurring arch and heel pain
- Foot pain that is exacerbated by exercise
- Swelling of the inner ankle
- Pain that radiates to the knees, thighs, hips, and the lower back
Those with flat feet also overpronate, which also puts them at risk for Achilles tendonitis and shin splints.
How will my West Houston TX foot and ankle doctors Dr. Asia Lo, Dr. Manish Patel, or Dr. Usman Sultan treat my flat feet?
Again, if you aren’t experiencing pain or other issues then you won’t need to do anything; however, if you are experiencing regular foot pain and other problems that make physical activity a challenge then our West Houston, TX, foot and ankle doctors may recommend:
- Specialty footwear
- Custom or prescription orthotics
- Corticosteroids (for severe pain and inflammation)
- Pain medications
- Bracing or splinting
- Foot and ankle exercises
- Massage therapy
- Surgical Correction
If you are looking for a foot and ankle doctor here in West Houston, TX, that can provide custom orthotics and other treatment options to address flat feet or foot and ankle pain, then call the Foot & Ankle Institute at (281) 531-4100 to book an in-person or virtual appointment.