Find out what you should do if you are an adult with flat feet.

All babies are born with flat feet, but they typically outgrow them by age 6; however, some kids don’t. These kids become adults who also deal with flat feet, but flat feet can also be acquired in adulthood due to injury or other conditions that impact the feet. If you suspect that you have flat feet, our Philadelphia and Huntingdon Valley, PA, foot and ankle surgeons can quickly diagnose this condition.

What Causes Flat Feet?

If you are an adult who has developed flat feet, typically causes include,

• Being overweight or obese
• Pregnancy
• Injury to the foot such as a fracture or overstretched tendon
• Poorly controlled chronic health conditions such as hypertension or diabetes

What Are Some Signs of Flat Feet?

You could have flat feet and not even know it, but common signs of flat feet include,

• Aching foot pain, particularly in the arches and heels
• Pain while standing or walking
• Ankle pain
• Leg cramps
• Lack of arches, particularly when putting weight on the feet

When Should I Turn to a Podiatrist?

You should turn to our team for an evaluation if you suspect that you might have flat feet or if you are dealing with,

• Trouble walking or pain with movement
• Painful feet or ankles
• Problems with balance
• Sudden flat feet or flat feet that appear as a result of an injury

Do I Need Treatment for Flat Feet?

If you aren’t dealing with pain or other issues, then you probably won’t need to seek treatment. Still, if you are dealing with the symptoms above, you should turn to our Philadelphia and Huntingdon Valley, PA, foot and ankle surgeons for any assessment. We can easily tell if someone has flat feet by observing them as they stand and walk. Nonsurgical treatment options are usually all that’s needed to ease pain and other symptoms. Common ways to treat flat feet include,

• Rest
• Splinting, braces and custom orthotics and shoes
• Pain relieving medication (NSAIDs) and ice ease pain and swelling
• Physical therapy to improve the strength of the tendons and muscles of the feet and ankles

If you are dealing with the pain and discomfort of flat feet, the Philadelphia, Germantown or Huntingdon Valley, PA, team at Chestnut Hill Podiatry Associates is here to help. Call today at our Germantown Ave location at (215) 247-0879, or our Huntingdon Valley location at (215) 379-5112 to schedule a consultation with our team.