flat foot

Also known as weak foot or fallen arches, is a common condition in which both arches of the foot are impaired, more especially the longitudinal arch.

Flat-looking feet are not always abnormal. Under the age of one and a half years 97% of children have flat feet, but only 4% have flat feet by the age of ten years. Some Africans and aboriginal Australians are all flat footed in adult life. If flat foot persists into adult life the majority of people affected can walk without discomfort, and athletes do not find the condition limiting. The feet give no symptoms, are mobile, and there is no evidence of underlying abnormality of the nerves, muscles, or bones. No treatment is required, and modifications to footwear do not alter the shape of the foot.

Treatment Treatment is best directed to flat foot which gives symptoms, or which is associated with abnormality of nerve, muscle, or bone. If the condition is secondary to a bony abnormality, improvement may be achieved by the use of a caliper or temporary splinting. More resistant cases may require surgery, but it is usually inevitable that loss of pain is exchanged for loss of foot mobility.