Getting Flat Feet Later in Life

Have you been wondering why your feet hurt or the heels on your shoes are wearing unevenly? Flatfloot, a condition that's more common as you get older, may be to blame. Fortunately, your Pennsauken and Turnersville, NJ, podiatrists at Regional Foot and Ankle Specialists offer treatment strategies that will ease your pain and improve arch support.

What are the symptoms of flatfoot?

Flatfoot occurs when your arches begin to flatten out. Your arches not only support your body weight but help keep the bones in your legs, hips, and spine properly aligned. If you have flat feet, you may experience these symptoms:

• Pain in your arch, heel, or ankle
• Leg, hip, or back pain
• Cramps in your leg muscles
• An aching sensation in your leg muscles
• Pain when walking
• Rolling your ankles inward when you walk or other gait changes

How does aging affect the arches?

As you get older, any of these problems can flatten your arches:

• Loose Ligaments: The ligaments that hold the bones in your foot together naturally loosen with age. When this happens, your arches may become flattened.
• Arthritis: Arthritis in the foot can also cause changes in your arches. The joint disease can trigger inflammation in the cartilage in the bones in your foot, which may flatten the arch.
• Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (PTTD): The posterior tibial tendon connects the bones on the inside of your foot to a large muscle on the back of your calf. PTTD occurs when the tendon becomes inflamed or tears and can no longer adequately support the arch.

How do foot doctors treat flat feet?

If you have any of the symptoms of flatfoot, it's a good idea to pay a visit to the Pennsauken and Turnersville, NJ, podiatry office. Your podiatrist can recommend treatment options, including:

• Orthotics: These prescription shoe inserts support your arch, decrease pain and keep the bones in your leg, hip, and back properly aligned.
• Taping or Braces: Taping your foot or wearing a brace offers support for flat arches.
• Physical Therapy and Exercises: Stretching exercises strengthen the muscles in your feet and legs, reduce pain, and can improve mobility.
• Corticosteroid Injections: The injections can decrease pain in your feet.
• Surgery: Most people don't need surgery if their feet are flat, but it may be recommended if other treatments aren't helpful.

Do think your feet might be flat? Your podiatrists in Pennsauken and Turnersville, NJ, at Regional Foot and Ankle Specialists can determine if an arch problem or another foot condition is the source of your pain. Call (856) 488-5290 to schedule an appointment at the Pennsauken office or (856) 875-8855 to make an appointment at the Turnersville office.