General Information About Flat Feet
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is a condition where the gap (arch) that should normally be present on the inner side of a healthy foot to absorb the body's shock (load) during walking disappears, causing the entire sole of the foot to touch the ground.
Flexible Flat Feet: The arch is present when the foot is in the air or when standing on tiptoes, but disappears when standing flat on the ground. It is generally painless.
Rigid Flat Feet: There is no arch whether the foot is in the air or on the ground. It is caused by fused bones and is very painful.
Yes. Flat feet can develop later in life, particularly as a result of excess weight, rheumatoid arthritis, pregnancy, or the tearing/loosening of the main tendon (posterior tibial tendon) that holds up the foot arch, due to age and overuse.
Because the body's biomechanics are disrupted, it causes chronic mechanical fatigue pains not only in the foot but also in the ankle, the inner part of the knees due to inward rolling, the hips, and the lower back.
It is diagnosed through an Orthopedics specialist examining the patient while standing (observing the heels rolling outward from behind) and mapping the pressure applied by the foot to the ground using computerized Footprint Analysis (Pedobarography).
Custom-made orthopedic insoles given during childhood and for flexible flat feet do not cure the foot (they do not bring the arch back), but they 100% prevent pain and joint destruction by correcting the load distribution. For adult-onset flat feet due to tendon rupture or in cases of severe bone pain, surgical repair (bone cuts/fusion) is performed.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
