Flat feetPes planovalgus; Fallen arches; Pronation of feet; Pes planus
Flat feet (pes planus) refers to a change in foot shapein which the foot does not have a normal arch when standing.
Flat feet are a common condition. The condition is normal ininfants and toddlers.
Flat feet occur because the tissues holding the joints in the foot together (called tendons) are loose.
The tissues tighten and form an arch as children grow older. This will take placeby the time the child is 2 or 3 years old. Most people have normal arches by the time they are adults. However, the arch may never form in some people.
Aging, injuries, or illness may harm the tendons and cause flat feet to develop in a person who has already formed arches. This type of flat foot may occur only on one side.
Rarely, painful flat feet in children may be caused by a condition in which two or more of the bones in the foot grow or fuse together. This condition is called tarsal coalition.
Most flat feet do not cause pain or other problems.
Children may havefoot pain, ankle pain, or lower leg pain. They should be evaluated by a health care provider if this occurs.
Symptoms in adults may include tired or achy feet after long periods of standing or playing sports.
Exams and Tests
In people with flat feet, the instep of the foot comes in contact with the ground whenstanding.
To diagnose the problem, the health care provider will ask you to stand on your toes. If an arch forms,the flat foot is called flexible. You will not need any more tests or treatment.
If the arch does not form with toe-standing (called rigid flat feet), or if there is pain, other tests may be needed, including:
- CT scan to look at the bones in the foot
- MRI scan to look at the tendons in the foot
- X-ray of the foot
Flat feet in a child do not need treatment if they are not causing pain or walking problems.
- Your child's feet will grow and develop the same, whether special shoes, shoe inserts, heel cups, or wedges are used.
- Your child may walk barefoot, run or jump, or do any other activity without making the flat feet worse.
In older children and adults, flexible flat feet that do not cause pain or walking problems do not need further treatment.
If you have pain due to flexible flat feet, the following may help:
- An arch-support (orthotic) that you put in your shoe. You can buy this at the store or have it custom-made.
- Special shoes
Rigid or painful flat feet need to be checkedby a health care provider. The treatment depends on the cause of the flat feet.
For tarsal coalition, treatment starts with rest and possibly a cast. Surgery may be needed if pain does not improve.
In more severe cases, surgery may be needed to:
- Clean or repair the tendon
- Fusejoints in the foot into a corrected position
Flat feet in older adults can be treated with pain relievers, orthotics, and sometimes surgery.
Most cases of flat feet are painless and do not cause any problems. They will notneed treatment.
Some causes of painful flat feet can be treated without surgery. If other treatments do not work,surgery may be needed to relieve painin some cases.
Surgery oftenimproves pain and foot functionfor people who need it.
Possible problems after surgery include:
- Failure of the fused bones to heal
- Foot deformity that does not go away
- Loss of ankle movement
- Pain that does not go away
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your health care provider if you experience persistent pain in your feet or your child complains of foot pain or lower leg pain.
Most cases are not preventable.
Hosalkar HS, Spiegel DA, Davidson RS. The foot and toes. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap. 666.
Wexler D, Kile TZ, Grosser DM. Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction. In: Frontera WR, Silver JK, eds. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap. 87.
Review Date: 1/17/2013
Reviewed By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Also reviewed by A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc., Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, David R. Eltz, Stephanie Slon, and Nissi Wang.