Foot Care 2 You
Trusted Podiatrists serving West Orange, NJ, Toms River, NJ, Bloomfield, NJ & Elmwood Park, NJ
Flat feet might be hardly noticeable for some people, and for others, the condition can lead to impaired mobility, pain, and complications. The podiatrists of Foot Care 2 You offer effective treatments, such as custom orthotics and certain medications. The friendly podiatrists at the locations in Toms River, West Orange, Elmwood Park, and Bloomfield, New Jersey, ensure every man, woman, and child receives individualized and quality podiatric care. Call your nearest office or simply use the online scheduling tool.
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Flat Feet
What are flat feet?
Fully developed normal foot arches have a noticeable upward curve in the middle of the foot. Normal arches support and stabilize your ligaments and tendons in the lower leg and foot.
With flat feet or fallen arches, the arch has collapsed over time in either one foot or both feet, or the arch hasn’t properly developed.
What causes flat feet?
Flat feet can be hereditary and present from birth, but they can also develop due to overuse, aging, or following a fracture, ligament tear, or some other type of injury.
An arch can also collapse as a complication of diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or other medical conditions.
What are the signs of flat feet?
There is a simple test you can do at home in addition to visiting the trained Foot Care 2 You podiatrists to help determine if you have flat feet.
Get some water and a concrete surface and wet your feet before standing on the surface as you normally would. Step away and evaluate your imprints.
With normal arches, the inside curve of your foot should be missing from the imprint, but if you have flat feet, you should notice the entire or almost the entire imprint of the base under your foot.
What are the complications of flat feet?
Flat feet can cause swelling, redness, and pain along the inner side of the foot. You might have difficulty standing or walking for long periods.
Ulcers or bony bumps in the skin can also develop, and in some cases, flat feet can throw other joints out of alignment. As the collapse worsens, your ankle can roll inward, your foot can turn outward, and your heel bone might shift out of alignment.
How are flat feet treated?
To treat flat feet, your Foot Care 2 You podiatrist first takes time to determine the severity and cause before planning effective treatments geared at improving mobility, relieving pain, supporting your arches, and preventing further complications.
Treatments might include:
- Walking boots to help your tendon heal
- Medications for diminishing pain and inflammation
- Losing weight if excess weight is worsening your condition
- Physiotherapy and stretching exercises to relieve muscle tension
- Custom shoes, a brace, inserts, or other orthotics to support your arch
- Lifestyle changes, such as a nutrient-dense diet and stress reduction to lower inflammation
In more severe cases, to improve your arch, your podiatrist might recommend surgery to clean or repair the tendon or to fuse your foot joints into the correct position.
For compassionate medical support for flat feet, call Foot Care 2 You or book online.