Have you had foot pain for as long as you can remember? Have you ever been told you have flat feet? Also known as fallen arches, flat feet can usually be self-diagnosed, but rarely are there easily identifiable symptoms associated with the issue. While there is no “cure” for flat feet, there are treatment options that can help.
What Exactly Does Having Flat Feet Mean?
We all are born with flat feet, but normally they disappear around the age of six as our feet become less flexible and the arches develop. Several tendons in your foot and lower leg start to work together to form the arches in your foot. When these tendons don’t pull together properly, the arch fails to develop and your feet stay flat.
Flat feet can also be a symptom of an underlying issue – misaligned feet. It’s the misalignment in your feet that is essentially forcing your arch to lower and causing a visible collapse of the sinus tarsi, the naturally occurring space just below your ankle joint.
How Are Flat Feet Affecting You?
Flat feet are hereditary and a result of a faulty foot structure. Many people live with flat feet without any major issues. However, they could become a big deal because they are actually causing your entire body to be out of alignment. This can start to affect your ability to stand, walk, run, exercise, and participate in other day-to-day activities. You may start to feel pain not only in your feet, but also your knees, hips, back and neck. If living with flat feet becomes painful there are some solutions.
What Options Do You Have To Help Your Flat Feet?
First and foremost, it’s important that you schedule a consultation with a trusted and qualified podiatrist who can thoroughly examine your feet and give you the right recommendations. In general though some treatment options include:
- Exercise to strengthen the arch muscle in the foot
- Selecting footwear with good arch support and stability
- Custom orthotic shoe inserts
- HyProCure®
The first three treatments mentioned above only help manage the foot pain caused by flat feet. The HyProCure® stent will actually correct the foot misalignment. It’s a minimally invasive procedure that works by placing a small titanium stent into the naturally occurring space between the ankle bone and heel bone, stabilizing the ankle and keeping it from excessively rolling inward and putting extra pressure and strain on your feet and arch.
