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Flat Feet

Flat Feet

Flat Feet services offered in Fresno and Madera, CA

Up to 30% of Americans have flat feet, a condition characterized by a lack of arches. Flat feet typically aren’t a problem, but if you suffer from chronic foot pain, it’s essential to seek treatment. At Advanced Foot Care and Clinical Research Center, board-certified podiatrists Jay Mukker, DPM, FABPM, CWSP, and Gavin Lee, DPM, specialize in managing flat feet. After an exam and discussing your symptoms, they can make treatment recommendations. To make an appointment, call the office in Fresno or Madera, California, or book online today. 

Flat Feet Q & A

What are flat feet?

If you have flat feet, your soles make contact with the ground whenever you stand up. Everyone is born with flat feet, but most people develop arches by age 6. Experts aren’t sure why, but some people have only small arches or don’t develop arches at all. 

Most people with flat feet don’t experience symptoms, but in some cases, the condition causes other, more serious problems.

What causes flat feet?

Flat feet often occur due to genetics. For example, if your parents have flat feet, you’re more likely to also.

Flat feet can also occur due to underlying health problems, including:

  • Achilles tendon injuries
  • Broken bones
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Obesity
  • Pregnancy

You might also experience flat feet if you have an autoimmune disease, like rheumatoid arthritis.

What are the symptoms of flat feet?

The symptoms of flat feet include:

  • Leg cramps
  • Muscle pain
  • Pain in your arch, ankle, or heel
  • Changes in how you walk

As flat feet worsen, you might also experience toe drift, a condition that affects the alignment of the bones and joints at the front of your foot.

How are flat feet diagnosed?

To diagnose flat feet, your Advanced Foot Care and Clinical Research Center provider reviews your medical records and asks about your symptoms. Then, they evaluate your arches when sitting, standing, and walking.

If these tests don’t provide enough information to make a diagnosis, your podiatrist might also order X-rays. X-rays make it easy for your provider to evaluate the bones and joints in your feet. 

How are flat feet treated?

Treatment of flat feet depends on several factors, including your age, the severity of your symptoms, and their effect on your life. Whenever possible, Advanced Foot Care and Clinical Research Center recommends conservative treatments, such as:

  • Anti-inflammatory medication
  • Icing your feet
  • Physical therapy to strengthen your muscles and tendons
  • Custom orthotics
  • Foot or leg braces
  • Prescription shoes

The goal of treatment is to relieve pain and stiffness, encourage mobility, and improve your quality of life.

What is the prognosis for people with flat feet?

Most people with flat feet respond well to conservative treatments. Even so, flat feet may increase your risk of other health problems, like arthritis, shin splints, bunions, or bone spurs.

To learn more about the treatment options for flat feet, make an appointment at Advanced Foot Care and Clinical Research Center. Call the nearest office or book online today.