The Silent Symptoms of Flat Feet
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Do you know if your feet are flat? Most people won’t know they have flat feet, or fallen arches until they visit a podiatrist. It can be difficult to tell on your own if your arches have fallen but it’s not impossible! Here are some ways you can tell if your feet have fallen flat:
When you step out of the shower, your wet footprint is larger where there used to be a gap in the inner middle area of your foot.
Walking barefoot often leads to feeling fatigue in your feet or ankles faster than it used to.
Stand straight in front of a floor length mirror and look at the space in between your two feet - if your feet seem to turn inwards, towards each other, your arches have likely fallen.
Walking in unsupportive shoes, especially those without orthotic insoles can lead to fatigue or discomfort on the outside of your foot, ankle, calf, hips, or even your lower back.
You have been overweight for part or most of your life.
If you identify with one or more of these flat feet risk factors, you may be at risk of developing flat feet or have already developed them. In most cases, flat feet or fallen arches are a type of foot problem that can’t be reversed. While there aren’t any magical cures for flat feet in adults, there are other ways, like orthotics, to help relieve the symptoms. Your podiatrist will take a custom fitting of your feet and use that data to create an insole specifically made for you. The insole serves a similar purpose as posture correctors for your back by putting your foot back into its natural arch and positioning. Not only will orthotics properly realign your feet, but they will also align your ankles, knees, hips, and lower back, as a result, providing pain relief from the discomfort of fallen arches. Interested in learning more?
Here at The Texas Foot Specialists, Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum provide expert and specialized care to address all of your foot and ankle needs. From conservative to advanced surgical treatments, you can always count on us for quality and compassionate care. Contact us online to make an appointment at one of our conveniently located offices in Sugar Land, Pasadena or Houston.