A Podiatrist’s Tips for People with Flat Feet

Do you know what makes your feet carry and distribute your whole body weight efficiently? The arches of your feet. Your feet arches absorb shock and help your feet adapt to uneven surfaces. Having flat feet or pes planus means your feet do not have arches or appear to be extremely low.

You may inherit flat feet from your parent, or your flat feet result from trauma or medical injury, causing your arches to fall. Certain health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, torn tendons can also cause you to develop flat feet.

If you suffer from flat feet, you may think there’s nothing you can do about it. However, that’s not the case. Visiting a podiatrist in St. Peters can help you deal with pain and limited mobility due to flat feet. Read on to discover a few simple tips from podiatrists to deal with your flat feet.

Wear Orthotics Or Shoe Inserts

Wearing orthotics or shoe inserts may help you deal with flat feet in a couple of ways. Your orthotics can support or raise your arch by aligning the boney structure of your foot into a better position and inverting your heel bone. Your shoe inserts or orthotics also help you feel better because they provide structural support by alleviating the strain on your muscle and ligaments.

Perform Arch Strengthening Exercises

Your podiatrist will recommend you do arch strengthening exercises. Your foot itself has muscles that start from the foot and end in it without extending into other parts of your body. Such muscles are generally found on the bottom of your foot and are called intrinsic muscles. In the case of flat feet, these intrinsic muscles do not develop or work properly. The arch strengthening exercises aim to strengthen these intrinsic muscles that will eventually support your arch. The arch strengthening exercises your podiatrists recommend will include picking up small marbles or cloth with the help of toes and grabbing motion of your toes.

Stretch

Most podiatrists think that a tight calf muscle, which is commonly known as Equinus, is the most common cause of your flat feet. Typically, these tight calf muscles cause flat feet by transmitting a pronating force on your foot resulting in arch collapse.

Your podiatrist will recommend a stretching exercise that will alleviate the flattening effect. Runners’ stretch is considered an effective stretch for the Achilles tendon. Your podiatrist also recommends a yoga position called downward dog that helps stretch your leg’s back.

Maintain A Healthy Weight

If you are obese, nearly all the muscles, ligaments, and tendons of your foot will become weak. Extra weight can tear your tibial tendon resulting in the development of flat feet. It also increases your risk of developing flat feet because those extra pounds will collapse your normal arches.

Maintaining a healthy weight will reduce extra pressure on your feet. Losing weight will also help reduce pain due to flat feet.

Wear Well-Fitting Shoes

Your podiatrist will recommend you wear comfortable shoes to avoid the discomfort associated with flat feet. Supportive shoes will reduce pain and provide you relief.

Podiatrist in St. Peters, MO

If you or anyone you care about suffer from flat feet and seek a lasting solution, visit our skilled podiatrist at Advanced Bone & Joint in St. Peters, Missouri. Our board-certified podiatrist Dr. Anthony Lombardo has years of experience in treating foot and ankle conditions, including flat feet. As a highly qualified podiatrist, Dr. Lombardo will devise a personalized treatment plan for your flat feet and help you recover faster.

If you have any questions about flat feet or want to set up a consultation with our podiatrist in St. Peters, call today at (636) 229-4222 or fill out our appointment request form online.

We will help you have healthy, pain-free feet!