CONDITION: Fallen Arches or Flatfoot

DESCRIPTION:
Fallen arches, or flatfoot, is a condition in which the arch on the inside of the foot is flat and the entire sole of the foot rests on the ground. It affects about 40 percent of the general population. Although flat feet in and of themselves are not usually problematic, they can create problems in the feet, hips, ankles and knees. Pain may be experienced in the lower legs if there are alignment problems and if the individual is engaged in a lot of heavy, high-impact activities that put stress on the bones and muscles of the lower legs.

How do fallen arches or flatfoot develop?
The arches of most individuals are fully developed by the age of 12 to 13. While some people are born with flat arches, for others, the arches fall over time. The tibial tendon, which runs along the inside of the ankle from above the ankle to the arch, can weaken with age and with heavy activity. The posterior tendon, main support structure for the arch, can become inflamed (tendonitis) or even tear if overloaded. For women, wearing high heels can affect the Achilles tendon and alter the structure and function of the ankle. The posterior tibial tendon may compensate for this stress and break down, causing the arches to fall. Obesity is another contributing factor, as well as a serious injury to the ankle or foot, arthritis and bad circulation such as occurs with diabetes.

What are the symptoms of fallen arches or flatfoot?
Symptoms can include a flat look to either both feet or only one, the collapse of a shoe toward the inside of the flat foot, and inside lower leg pain when running (similar to a shin splint). Most people with this condition complain of chronic achy feet. Pain in the ankle may also be experienced when walking up stairs or over uneven ground. In addition, the inside of the ankle or lower leg may swell. And, over time, if the weakened foot ligaments are not strengthened, pain may develop in the knee and hip.

Conventional medical treatments may help relieve the symptoms of fallen arches, but they do not address the root of the problem. By strengthening structural weaknesses in the body, as natural medicine treatments like Prolotherapy do, pain associated with fallen arches may be alleviated permanently.

Discover why we believe that natural medicine treatments are the best way to treat fallen arches.

Learn about the treatments for Fallen Arches or Flatfoot