PODIATRIST DISCUSSES ADULT FLAT FEET

“Adult flatfoot can be caused by trauma, injury, accident, or being overweight or pregnant,” notes Jacqueline Sutera, DPM, who specializes in women’s foot care at City Podiatry in New York. “These events can rupture tendons and ligaments that hold the foot in its neutral position.” As weight-related changes may cause the foot to flatten, widen, or overpronate, the effects can be temporary or permanent. Regardless of its cause or course of development, flatfoot universally becomes troublesome when other symptoms crop up, especially pain in the arch, leg, back, or hip. 

 

Dr. Jacqueline Sutera

 

In these cases, experts recommend a doctor’s visit, because once pain manifests, the problem can go from bad to worse. Dr. Sutera relates that a host of problems may be caused by unchecked flatfeet, including heel pain, bunions, arthritis, and hammertoes. “Some signs to look for: The middle of the foot (the instep or arch) flattens when you stand up, fleshy parts on the outside of your heel/midfoot spread out when standing, the outsides of the heels of your shoes wear out, you have pain on the bottom or back of the heel, or you notice a wide foot imprint when standing on wet sand at the beach.”

 

Source: Tracy Morin, Nailpro [9/11/20]

Courtesy of Barry Block, editor of PM News