Wait, Flexible Feet Can Be Bad…?
The expert DPMs at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists know that flexibility is usually positive. However, that’s not the case regarding flexible arches on a flat-footed person. Flat feet can lead to a wide variety of problems on their own, but when they are flexible, things are prone to become even more complicated.
Falling Flat
When flat feet are left untreated, they can lead to a number of podiatric headaches, including:
- Bunions.
- Hammertoes.
- Tightening of the Achilles tendon and calf muscle.
If this doesn’t sound bad enough, the problems worsen when flexibility enters the picture.
Your feet are considered flexible if your arches disappear when you put weight on them but then return to a more normal position when you pick your feet up.
Symptoms most often associated with flexible flat feet include:
- Severe pain in the arch, heel, ankle, or the outside edge of the foot.
- Shin splints.
- Overpronation (rolling your ankle inwards when you walk).
- Lower back, hip, or knee pain.
What Can I Do About It?
Call us! At Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists, we will perform a complete physical exam to assess the severity of your flat-footed problems.
Once we’ve had a look, treatment options might include the following:
- Anti-inflammatory medications.
- Weight reduction plans to relieve pressure on the arch.
- Altering your activity level to avoid repetitive strain.
- Arch supports or other custom orthotics.
- Physical therapy.
- Immobilization of the foot with a special boot.
- Surgery (in severe cases).
The experts at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists in the Tucson, Oro Valley, and Green Valley areas of Pima County, Arizona, have experience handling all aspects of foot and ankle care. Bradley A. Whitaker, D.P.M., FACFAS, Peter C. Merrill, D.P.M., AACFAS, and Zeno Pfau, D.P.M., are all dedicated to serving you with state-of-the-art medical technologies, including in-office X-rays, stem cell treatments, custom-fitted orthotics, and Radial Pulse Therapy (RPT) for chronic foot, heel, or ankle pain. If you have any questions or want to make an appointment, please call (520) 575-0800 or contact us online.
