Flat feet can occur during childhood if the arches of the feet don't develop, after an injury, or from the wear and tear of aging.
Most people have no symptoms associated with flat feet. But some people with flat feet experience foot pain, particularly in the heel or arch area.
For painful flat feet, treatments include arch supports for the shoes, stretching, or a structurally supportive shoe.
More than 3 million US cases per year
Treatment can help, but this condition can't be cured
Usually self-diagnosable
Lab tests or imaging rarely required
Chronic: can last for years or be lifelong
You have flatfeet when the arches on the inside of your feet are flattened, allowing the entire soles of your feet to touch the floor when you stand up.
A common and usually painless condition, flatfeet can occur when the arches don’t develop during childhood. In other cases, flatfeet develop after an injury or from the simple wear-and-tear stresses of age.
Flatfeet can sometimes contribute to problems in your ankles and knees because the condition can alter the alignment of your legs. If you aren’t having pain, no treatment is usually necessary for flatfeet.
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