When you take thousands of steps each day, it’s not always obvious that your feet are complex and have a major job to do. Your feet balance your entire weight and make it possible to move through your day. Most people don’t think about their feet until they run into foot problems. Flat feet, for example, can cause foot and leg pain, back pain, and chronic muscle strain.
The foot care specialists at Tussey Mountain Foot & Ankle Specialists in State College, Pennsylvania, can evaluate your feet and create a treatment plan to relieve your discomfort if you suffer from chronic pain due to flat feet. Custom orthotics — designed specifically for your feet to provide the support you require — are frequently part of that plan.
Your feet, like the rest of your body, develop, grow, and change over time. When you walk, your foot arches, which are made up of tarsal and metatarsal bones, ligaments, and tendons, give you a spring in your step and evenly distribute your weight. Problems can crop up if your arches do not develop normally, or if they begin to fall and flatten.
When your foot arches collapse and the entire soles of your feet touch the floor when you stand, you have flat feet. Flat feet can cause no pain or problems in some cases. Flat feet may cause complications with leg alignment, causing pain in the feet, ankles, hips, and knees.
Flat feet are common in infants and toddlers; as they grow older and reach adulthood, their arches develop. Adults with the following risk factors, on the other hand, may develop flat feet:
Consult a podiatrist to find out for sure if you have flat feet. Some signs and symptoms include foot pain and stiffness, knee and hip joint pain, and ankles that turn inward. You may also notice that your shoes are wearing down faster or unevenly.
Custom orthotics are biomechanical devices that fit inside your shoes and help correctly align your foot and ankle. They can correct foot imbalances and evenly distribute your weight.
You get extra support while wearing them, especially in the arches, where you need it the most. Your orthotics may be uncomfortable at first as they work to realign your feet. Wear them for two hours at a time at first, and gradually increase the time over two weeks.
Flat foot pain can be relieved in a variety of ways, including using orthotics. Your provider may also recommend stretching exercises, physical therapy, and supportive shoes.
Visit the podiatry specialists at Tussey Mountain Foot & Ankle Specialists if you have flat feet, notice your arches are falling, or are having unexplained foot pain. Our team can create a treatment strategy to alleviate your pain and get you back on your feet. Call our State College office to schedule an appointment or book online today. Your feet will thank you!
