How do fallen arches happen

Surgical options include replacing the damaged tendon with another tendon from the foot, realigning bones to create a more normal arch, or fusing joints to stabilize the back of the foot. Mayo Clinic Health Letter is an eight-page monthly newsletter of reliable, accurate and practical information on today's health and medical news. To subscribe, please call toll-free , extension , or visit Mayo Clinic Health Letter Online. By mayonewsreleases. Conservative treatment choices include: Stopping or decreasing activities that aggravate foot pain.

Applying cold packs to the painful area three or four times a day for up to 20 minutes each time. Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen Advil, Motrin IB, others or naproxen Aleve, others to reduce pain and inflammation.

The condition may be congenital occurring at the time of birth or acquired developing over time, most often as a result of age or injury. Diagnosis of flat feet typically involves a visual examination of the foot, supported by imaging tests. Treatments may involve over-the-counter pain medications, orthotic arch supports, foot exercises and, less commonly, surgery.

While most people with flat feet have few, if any, symptoms, those who do typically experience pain in the midfoot region. The pain tends to increase with activity and may be accompanied by swelling along the inner ankle and arch.

Over time, simple movements like standing on your toes can become unbearable as arthritis further limits the range of motion between the bones of your foot. This can affect how you walk or run, leading to a characteristic flat-footed gait. Flat feet are typically associated with excessive pronation of the foot. Because of their tendency to overpronate, flat feet are less able to absorb shock, placing persistent stress on the feet, ankles, and knees.

Overpronation causes the excessive rotation of the tibia shin bone , increasing the risk of shin splints. The inward tilt of the foot places further strain on the tendons and ligaments of the lower extremities. Achilles tendinitis inflammation of the Achilles tendon and knee pain are common consequences. The cause and treatment of flat feet differ based on the person's age.

Flat feet in children will often resolve without intervention, while "fallen arches" in adults tend to be permanent and non-reversible.

Flat feet are commonly associated with genetic disorders that first develop in childhood, including:. Flat feet may come and go as a child develops. During growth spurts, changes in the tightness of the calf muscles may cause temporary flat-footedness. A similar example is genu valgum, also known as knock-knees, which usually occurs between the ages of 2 and 5, and typically corrects itself during adolescence.

In some children, flat-footedness will not right itself. While there may be no outward explanation for this, obesity can often contribute by placing additional stress on a still-developing foot. Flat feet in children may only become apparent between adolescence and the early teen years when abnormalities in gait and pronation become more apparent. If left untreated, the disorder can progress and worsen in later life.

It is commonly associated with the deterioration of the posterior tibial tendon , which runs along your inner ankle. Faulty foot mechanics can also take their toll on the structure of arch, leading the progressive loosening of ligaments that support the foot bones. A fallen arch also known as an adult-acquired flat foot occurs most commonly in women over 40 and people who are obese. A past injury, such as a stress fracture , may also lead to a fallen arch.

Among some of the other conditions linked to adult-acquired flat foot:. Shoes can also contribute. A compressed toe box which prevents the toes from resting in a natural position and an elevated heel which causes hyperextension of the arch muscles and decreased dorsiflexion of the ankle all serve to undermine the strength and flexibility of the underside of the foot, increasing the risk of collapse.

Fallen arches are almost always permanent. With that being said, many people will have a condition known as flexible flat foot in which the arch is visible when the foot is lifted but disappears once the foot is placed on the ground. Flexible flat feet can result in pain in the foot, along the shin bone, and in the lower back, hip, or knee.

However, as a person ages, the condition can worsen and cause the collapse of one or both arches. Over time, this can lead to a condition known as rigid flat foot in which the sole is rigidly flat even when the foot is lifted. While flat feet can usually be self-diagnosed, the underlying cause may require investigation by a foot specialist known as a podiatrist. This may involve a visual exam as well as imaging tests to evaluate the structure of the foot.

A podiatrist can usually diagnose flat feet by looking at your feet while standing. Among some of the visual tests used:. If you are experiencing a lot of foot pain , your healthcare provider may order imaging tests to help pinpoint the underlying cause. Among the imaging tests used:. The treatment of flat feet can vary in children and adults. In either case, a conservative approach is usually preferred with surgery reserved for only the more severe cases. By and large, flat feet in children do not require treatment and will usually develop arches by adolescence or early adulthood.

Children who go barefoot on varied terrain are more likely to have normal arch development, usually between the ages of 4 and 6. Current evidence suggests the use of orthotics in children with flat feet is rarely beneficial. Surgery would be performed no later than the early teens, when the bone structure is still developing.

Orthotics would then be used to ensure the foot heals in the correct position. Fallen arches in adults often require no treatment. People with persistent or severe symptoms may benefit from orthotic arch supports and foot gymnastics. Before surgery is considered, conservative treatments such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications NSAIDs , corticosteroids, and orthotics or bracing are tried.

Orthotic supports are used to change the structure of your foot. Over the course of weeks or months, layers will be added, allowing you to gradually adapt to the sensation with minimal discomfort. The flat foot reconstruction procedure uses titanium inserts to reconstruct the arch. This technique provides more predictable outcomes than alternative flat foot treatments and leads to a more comfortable and natural-feeling arch for the patient. This procedure has proven successful in patients with all stages of flatfoot deformities, resulting in improved mobility for years to come.

Perler has performed hundreds of life-altering ankle replacements, ankle fusions, ankle deformity corrections, triple arthrodesis, subtalar fusions, and flatfoot reconstructions over the last seventeen years.

Perler is our trusted podiatric surgeon. If you are suffering from fallen arches or flat foot syndrome and would like to get back to a healthier you, schedule a consultation. Subscribe to our newsletter for joint health articles, procedure information, and news from the cutting edge of orthopedic care.

What is a Fallen Arch? Fallen Arch Symptoms Fallen arches can affect more than just a person's feet. Fallen Arch Exercises There are ways to stretch and condition feet to prevent more pain and discomfort from fallen arches.

Flat Foot Treatment and Surgery Sometimes the aches and pains of fallen arches cannot be helped by exercises and stretching, alone.