Do you suffer from foot pain due to flat feet? Our Port Washington, NY, foot doctor, Dr. Arthur Kaplan, discusses the condition and explains what you can do to ease your pain.

What types of problems can flat feet cause?

Your feet help keep your entire body properly aligned. Without strong arches, you may experience pain that extends from your feet through your ankles, legs, hips and back. Flat feet cause the interior portions of your feet to pronate or turn in. If you examine your shoes, you'll notice that the inner parts of the heels and soles show more wear than the outer parts. Excessive pronation not only causes wear on your shoes, but may also make it more likely that you'll twist your foot and ankle while you walk.

If you have flat feet, your risk of developing other foot conditions, including shin splints, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, bunions and hammertoe, may increase.

Why do I have flat feet?

Some people are born with flat feet, while others develop the condition as they grow older. Even if you were born with normal arches, damage to the posterior tibial tendon in your foot can eventually cause your arches to fall. The damage doesn't necessarily occur as a result of an injury, but can happen if the tendon weakens due to years of wear and tear.

What can I do to reduce flat feet symptoms?

Wearing supportive shoes and replacing your shoes as soon as you notice signs of wear can be helpful if you have pain due to flat feet. If you still have pain, experience ankle swelling or notice that your feet feel numb or weak, it's a good idea to schedule an appointment at our Port Washington office.

During your visit, we'll perform a thorough examination, including an analysis of your gait. Depending on the severity of your problem, you may benefit from physical therapy, orthopedic shoes or orthotics. Orthotics are shoe inserts designed by your foot doctor. They support your arches when you wear shoes, reducing your pain and improving the alignment of your feet.

Not sure if your foot, ankle, leg or back problems could be caused by flat feet? Schedule an appointment with our Port Washington, NY, foot doctor, Dr. Kaplan, by calling (516) 883-8313.