What are the effects of Flat Feet? In most children flat feet are asymptomatic and of no concern. However, over time flat feet may lead to an altered walking pattern; clumsiness; limping after long walks; and pain in the foot, knees or hips.
Balance problems are just one issue that flat feet can cause. Some of the most prevalent symptoms associated with flat feet include: Swelling. Leg and back pain.
Flatfeet is a common condition, also known as flatfoot, in which the arches on the inside of the feet flatten when pressure is put on them. When people with flatfeet stand up, the feet point outward, and the entire soles of the feet fall and touch the floor.
Many patients have no symptoms with this condition, and it does not interfere with accomplishing daily activities. Some people, however, are severely affected by flat feet, and can experience symptoms that often include easily becoming tired, pain in the heel and arch area, and difficulty standing on the toes.
Having flat feet makes it difficult to run or walk because of the stress placed on the ankles. Alignment – The general alignment of your legs can be disrupted, because the ankles move inward which can cause major discomfort.
Flat feet are generally asymptomatic and don't affect people's daily lives. However, flat feet can predispose the foot to overpronation. For an athlete, this can severely impact their performance. There is suboptimal energy transfer between the foot and the ground with overpronation.
Despite the many disadvantages, it might be the case that some incidences of flat feet could improve the absorption of shocks. If you are a swimmer, flat feet may also be very helpful because they can act as a kind of flipper. Flat feet, of course, are not entirely advantageous.
People who had flat feet as children are at a higher risk of developing adult acquired flatfoot. Also, those with a family history of flatfoot may be more prone to developing the condition.
Rigid flat foot is more common with age, and often develops due to simple wear and tear. Foot structure – Some people have an abnormal foot structure and simply never develop arches. You're more likely to have this abnormal foot structure if there is a family history of flat foot.
Celebrities with flat feet include Usain Bolt and Angelina Jolie. Usain Bolt has won multiple Olympic Games with flat feet. Angelina Jolie also has flat feet and continues to lead a productive and successful career while working on her health.
The structure of the arches determines how a person walks. The arches need to be both sturdy and flexible to adapt to stress and a variety of surfaces. When people have flat feet, their feet may roll to the inner side when they are standing and walking.
A flat-footed person may make a loud slapping sound on the floor when walking around with bare feet. One of the simplest ways to tell if you have flat feet is to do a visual check in the mirror.
The problem with flat feet
While men and women can go through life with flat feet and experience no problems, others can be more prone to inflammation, pain, and ankle instability.
Ankle muscle imbalances caused by differences in foot posture may be the cause of pain and dysfunction in patients with flat feet. Imbalanced invertor and evertor forces cause ankle instability and ankle injury [10].
However, the difference in biomechanical function of the foot between groups of different ethnic descents can not only be a result of shoes. Dunn et al. [16] reported that flat feet are more common in shod African Americans compared to shod non-Hispanics white and shod Puerto Ricans [16].
Having flat feet makes it difficult to run or walk because of the stress placed on the ankles. Alignment – The general alignment of your legs can be disrupted, because the ankles move inward which can cause major discomfort.
Our feet come from the factory equipped with arches, and those arches vitally need support. Walking barefoot on hard surfaces can lead toward collapsed arches and flat feet.
Usain Bolt, the world's fastest man, has flat feet and that didn't stop him from winning 3 straight Olympic Games! It can be treated in several ways and is not something that should worry you. Ensuring that you wear a well fitting, supportive shoe can help.
Flat-footed individuals are believed to have poorer jump performance compared to normal-arched individuals. Foot orthoses are commonly used to support the deformed foot arch, and improve normal foot function.
Victor Prisk suggests that “About 30 percent of people have a flat foot.” Furthermore, he states that “For every person who has a flat foot, one in 10 probably has some symptoms from it.”
This is because when landing the foot arch itself has more range of motion to control and absorb shock. Overall, there's NO evidence to support that flat foot negatively impacts your speed or ability to run fast.
Both conditions are not detrimental to your overall leg and foot health, but both can increase the risk of certain injuries or problems in the future. They are simply classed based on the foot posture or the medial longitudinal arch (a technical word for the arch of your foot!).
Flat feet, the condition in which the arches in the center of the sole of the foot are absent when the feet are bearing weight, is quite common. Approximately 8% of adults in the United States have congenital flat feet, which occur when the arches fail to form during early childhood.