Do you notice your ankle tilting inwards when standing? Are your shoes more worn and also tilting inwards? Do you feel foot pain, especially after a long day of walking or standing? It is very likely that you have flat feet. But what can be done about it? Let's find out!
WHAT IS THE ARCH OF THE FOOT?
When discussing flat feet, it's crucial to understand what the arch of the foot is and why we need it. In reality, the foot has three arches: the anterior transverse arch and the medial and lateral longitudinal arches. When talking about flat feet, we primarily refer to the medial arch of the foot. We can see it on the inner side of the foot when standing. You might wonder why these arches are even necessary. They are essential for evenly distributing the shock energy and load on the foot when walking or running.
HOW TO DETERMINE YOUR FOOT ARCH?
A simple way to do this at home is to stand on a sheet of paper with a wet foot and examine the resulting imprint. If you see that the middle part of the imprint is narrow, you likely have a normal or high arch; if it is wide, you have a flat foot. With severe progression of this deformity, you might see the inner part of your foot touching the ground when standing, which should not happen. If you have suspicions and are unsure, you can always visit an orthopedic traumatologist!
WHAT CHANGES OCCUR IN THE FOOT?
As the arch flattens, various deformities appear, including the well-known Hallux valgus, and as the big toe deviates, the joints of the other toes also deform. In cases of severe flat feet, the ankle joint tilts inwards, the load on it is unevenly distributed, and ankle joint osteoarthritis (wear and tear) begins. Due to the incorrect ankle position and low arch, other joints in the foot also receive uneven load, which can lead to their osteoarthritis. Then, the entire leg axis changes, and knee and hip joint pain may occur.
WHAT TO DO IF I SUSPECT I HAVE FLAT FEET?
If you experience foot cramps, faster fatigue when walking or standing for long periods, foot or leg muscle pain, or notice changes in your gait, it is essential to consult an orthopedic traumatologist! During the visit, we examine the condition of the joints by performing X-rays and checking foot and ankle movements. And, of course, once flat feet are diagnosed, we prescribe treatment.
HOW ARE FLAT FEET TREATED?
If the condition of your foot joints is still relatively good and you are not constantly bothered by pain, the first help we provide is the fitting of special orthopedic insoles. We refer patients to an orthopedic device manufacturer who customizes insoles based on your foot imprint. They are necessary to distribute the load on the foot in such a way as to prevent deformities.
We also refer patients for rehabilitation procedures for foot pain. It is also important to visit a kinesiotherapist who prescribes exercise routines to strengthen foot muscles.
SURGICAL TREATMENT OF FLAT FEET
As long as your flat feet do not cause significant discomfort and you do not experience pain when wearing orthopedic insoles, there is no need to rush into surgery!
However, there are cases where insoles and kinesiotherapy no longer help, in which case surgical treatment is appropriate. In such a situation, it would be wise to consult an orthopedic traumatologist who specializes in foot and ankle surgery.
The surgical treatment of flat feet is complex, involving osteotomies (a cut made in the bone, the axis corrected, and fixed with metal structures) and arthrodeses (joint fusion surgeries). Foot surgery is complex due to the intricate anatomy of the foot.
Also, when discussing these surgeries, it is very important to have good blood circulation in the feet, that the patient is not overweight, and in cases of diabetes, good glycemic control is essential, otherwise, there is a very high risk of complications.
So if you are considering surgery, you need to understand all the risks well and be prepared for a long recovery period.
It is very important to seek the advice of an orthopedic traumatologist in time, while we can still help you with conservative treatment methods. Take care of your foot health and do not wait until the deformity has progressed too much!
Do you have questions? Write to me, and we will try to find the most suitable solution for your problems together!
Karolina
