How to Spot Flat Feet
Flat feet can slow you down. But how do you know if you have them? For some people, the structure of their foot arch can be visibly obvious, but that’s not the case for everyone. You may look at your feet and not be able to see that you have flat feet or fallen arches, but the pain in your feet might be telling a different story. In this blog, we’ll talk about how to identify flat feet and how to treat some of the complications that come with a low-arch structure.
Know Your Arch
Even if you aren’t currently experiencing foot pain, it’s still important to find out whether you have a low, mid, or high-arch structure. You can do this at home by following these easy steps:
Wet your feet
Walk on a piece of cardboard
Study your tracks
If the footprint you leave behind on the piece of cardboard is full and broad from the toes down to your heels, then that means your whole foot is making contact with the ground as you walk. Flat feet can cause abnormal stress as you walk and could cause further complications such as plantar fasciitis, bunions, Achille’s tendonitis, and more.
Treat Your Flat Feet
The good news is that despite whatever complications may arise from flat feet, they’re still very treatable. Your foot doctor would most likely start with conservative treatments like at-home stretching exercises or custom orthotics. Custom orthotics are shoe inserts molded specifically to fit the shape of your feet. Orthotics will correct any abnormal gait caused by flat feet, thereby preventing any further injuries. In severe cases, your podiatrist might decide that surgery is the correct course of action for curing your flat feet.
Most importantly, remember that you don’t have to deal with flat feet on your own. Our podiatrists, Jonathan Levy, DPM and Nadia Levy, DPM, are ready to assess your feet today and work on a treatment plan that suits your lifestyle. Make an appointment online or call (212) 980-6487 today to visit Park 56 Podiatry located in Midtown East, Manhattan.
