Signs and Symptoms of Flat Feet

How Do I Know if I Have Flat Feet?

What are flat feet? Do I have flat feet? Put simply, you see no visible arch of the foot when a person with flat feet stands up.
Also known as “flatfoot“ or pes planus, this foot condition is pretty common. It’s one of several foot types and is considered normal in babies and very young children.
Some born with flat feet never develop arches, while others acquire flat feet over time. Some people may experience pain related to their flat feet, while others don’t.
flat-foot-xray

So how can you tell if you have flat feet? Just stand up!

It can be tricky to tell if you’ve got flat feet. In fact, many who think they have flat feet actually don’t. There are a number of ways to tell, but one good indicator comes to light when you stand up and can feel your entire foot touching the surface you’re standing on.

Do you have symptoms related to flat feet?

If you’ve got flat feet, you might see certain symptoms. While many people don’t experience any discomfort stemming from flat feet, for others it’s a different story. Symptoms include pain in the foot, heel, ankle and leg.
Those with flat feet may also experience difficulty standing on their tiptoes, swelling along the inside of the ankle, or arch strain. If you find yourself struggling with symptoms like these, it could mean that you have flat feet. Consult a doctor to get an accurate medical diagnosis for such symptoms.

Do you tend to overpronate?

Those with a flexible flatfoot–meaning that the foot is flat only when standing–tend to overpronate. Overpronation can lead to a long list of other foot conditions like bunions, plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, metatarsalgia, post-tibial tendonitis and more.
It’s crucial to correct pronation to avoid other footer conditions. That’s true for those with or without flat feet. But if you do have flat feet, you probably overpronate as well.

Do you have other conditions known to cause flat feet?

Pregnancy, aging, obesity and high-impact activities–especially on hard surfaces–can lead to fallen arches (PTTD), flattening the arch of the foot. So if you’re carrying extra weight or you like to run on concrete surfaces, you may have damaged the posterior tibial tendon, which works to maintain the integrity of the arch of the foot.
It’s important to get help early. Once the arch is weakened, it can flatten even more over time. Pain and other foot problems could follow.

Still not sure if you have flat feet?

If you suspect you have flat feet but you’re not sure, stop by your nearest Lucky Feet Shoes store today for a FREE full foot analysis! We’ll determine what foot type you have and show you how to deal with flat feet or other foot problems.
You’ll find our stores in Anaheim Hills, Rancho Cucamonga, Riverside, San Dimas and Temecula. Stop by today to try on shoes for flat feet or ask about our custom orthotics to help with flat feet and many other foot conditions.
We’ve helped thousands of customers reduce–or even eliminate–their foot pain! Let us help you, too!