How To Manage Pes Planus

Flat feet can also be a congenital condition (you are born with flat feet) or can be as a result of either walking or running on hard surfaces. This repetitive micro trauma causes weakening of the posterior tibial tendon – PTT which hold the arch in position. Pes Planus can be effectively treated with orthotics (special insoles) that provide biomechanical support and help feet to function more efficiently. The most effective orthotics are those which are custom made to fit your foot, but in many cases a non-prescription orthotics or insoles can be used. One clinical assumption that is often made is that the plantar surface area (footprint) can be used to predict the height of the arch. While this would be clinically ideal due to the ease of measurement, this is a dangerous assumption given that one study revealed that only 27% of the height of the medial longitudinal arch during walking can be predicted from plantar contact area 9 This is important because it illustrates a potential disconnect between what is seen as a flat foot (increased plantar contact area) and what happens dynamically during walking. The worst fears for anybody who wishes to take up Irish dancing is flat feet. I know this through personal experience. There is more than one word to describe this including Physiologic Flat Feet, Collapsed Arches, Fallen Arches, Hypermobile Arches, Pronation of the Foot and the medical term Pes Planus Believe it or not this foot condition affects many dancers, while there are things you can do to change the arch and eliminate the symptoms, sometimes one may have to pursue another dancing style or technique. This article will go over some of the causes of the flat foot, prevention measures to stop lowering arches and treatment of flat feet. In a nutshell, there are so many factors that can lead to foot pain. However, this is one of the more common problems you will find. Go visit a podiatrist if you think you or your child might be having this foot condition. Some insoles that provide support at the arch area can help reducing the pronation and the pain. Tendinitis may occur as a complication of flat feet. Tendinitis from flatfoot commonly affects the Achilles tendon because of the increased stress placed on the back of the heel and ankle. Symptoms of tendinitis include pain, swelling and warmth along the area of the tendon. Hammertoe Service connection for right foot pain was previously considered by rating action of February 7, 2002 and became final February 8, 2003. To reopen this claim you must submit new and material evidence to show that you developed a chronic right foot pain condition while on active duty which continues to be present today. You failed to submit any new evidence to show that you developed your chronic foot pain condition while on active duty. Flat feet’ can occur for a variety of reasons in the human foot, whether it be aging, a tibialis posterior tendon tear, ligament laxity, genetic, trauma, diabetes or arthritis. Radiographs are necessary in the evaluation of the painful flatfoot. 5 Obviously most rigid causes of flatfoot (e.g., tarsal coalitions) may be immediately identified with simple radiographs, and are easily distinguished from flexible flatfoot. 6,7 It is necessary to obtain standing (weightbearing) x-rays when evaluating a flatfoot because there are many joints in the foot that may be responsible for the collapse and subluxation. Flexible flatfoot requires a keen eye to evaluate the position of each bony segment and the relationship of the forefoot to rearfoot, as well as the position of the foot relative to the ankle and leg. Conservative management. Flat feet may be painless in most adults, but this condition may lead to low back pain in certain individuals. If left unchecked, your flat feet may impair your ability to walk, climb stairs, and wear shoes, and this condition can interfere with the normal alignment of your legs. Flat feet can be flexible and floppy, or they can involve rigidity and lack of motion, depending on the underlying cause of this musculoskeletal health problem. You may develop a flat foot on one or both sides of your body. This is the appearance of pes planus, or flatfoot, which occurs in up to 20% of adults with no other abnormalities. In the running study, athletic tape was used to adhere the arch supports to the plantar surface of the foot, specifically to the medial longitudinal arch. Participants reported that the taping technique did not limit normal movement of the foot. In the walking study, participants were sized and fitted with identically styled laboratory walking shoes (Rockport, World Tour Classic Model; Canton, MA) and custom-sized, flat insoles with the arch inserts adhered to them (Figure 3). In both studies, arch inserts of different heights were worn in random order during experimentation. Do seek expert medical advice so that you can get out there and enjoy the many benefits that walking offers. It is extremely common in infants and toddlers and is a resultant of the loose tendons that hold the foot joint firmly in place. As the children get older (around 2 to 3 years old) , they develop arches. However, in some cases the arches is never formed and such individuals continue to suffer the discomfort of having flat feet for the rest of their lives. Anatomy Of Flat Feet Motion Control Shoes – This is a blessing for runners that have low arches and usually indulge in rigorous over-pronation. The support provided on the side of the arches also makes running and long walks a comfortable experience.