Fallen arches, also referred to as “flat feet,” is a common condition where the sole of your foot lies flat on the ground. Some of us seem to have “flat feet” all our lives, while others acquire it later in life. It’s something our West Vancouver Chiropractor gets to evaluate all the time as it does play into other factors of back pain or joint pain.
To check if you have fallen arches, you just need to stand up and see whether your foot is flat on the floor or whether there is space under the arch of your feet.
Another way to tell is whether your feet and toes are all pointing outwards to the side or pointing straight out in front of you. If your feet and toes are pointing out towards the side a bit, then you probably have fallen arches.
The arch of the foot shapes the sole of the foot. This arch is formed by several strong tendons and fascia that attach between the heel and the forefoot bones. These soft tissues are also connected to other tendons in your foot and lower leg that pull the sole into its arched position.
Are Fallen Arches A Problem?
Both adults and children can have fallen arches, and generally, they are nothing to worry about. They generally won’t stop you from enjoying sporting activities, impede you at work, or when you’re actively moving about. Most of the time, fallen arches also shouldn’t cause any other problems elsewhere in the body.
Fallen arches are rarely a cause for concern. If you do start to notice some issues such as pain under your foot, ankles, or knees, then you may want to contact your West Vancouver Chiropractor for advice on your next steps. Hip and low back pain may also manifest as a result of fallen arches. It is more common to find an increased, fallen arch in one foot more than the other.
What Causes Fallen Arches?
There isn’t always a clear-cut cause for fallen arches, although there can be many reasons as to why you have flat feet. It could be a condition that is just present from birth – flat feet can run in the family. Fallen arches could also be caused by torn or damaged tendons in the foot, or a broken bone/dislocated bones in the foot or lower leg. Aging is also another natural reason for having fallen arches.
Here are some other causes:
- Injury to the PTT (Posterior Tibial Tendon). This tendon links your lower leg to your ankle and towards the middle of the foot arch. A pulled muscle or injury could cause this.
- A health condition, like rheumatoid arthritis or dislocated/broken foot bones.
- Obesity, general aging, pregnancy, and diabetes can also all cause fallen arches.
Symptoms of Fallen Arches
As mentioned above, fallen arches rarely cause significant issues, although some symptoms can be an early indicator.
First of all, there might be a feeling of tiredness in the feet, leading to pain or a consistent ache. This achiness is usually localized around the area of the arch and into the heel.
In time this may lead to your feet getting inflamed at the sole or top of the foot, which in turn leads to a reduction in movement – standing on your toes, for example, might become more difficult.
The feet are also crucial in the overall muscle and bone health in the legs and the spine. This means that fallen arches can cause pain and aches in your leg muscles and your back.
Although these symptoms may not be significant, if you do notice any of these, it’s a good idea to visit your chiropractor. Our West Vancouver Chiropractor has helped many people reduce the symptoms of aches and pain in their legs, knees, hips, and back, and getting them back to having a pain-free and active life again.
Fallen Arches Treatment From Your Chiropractor in West Vancouver
Treatment for fallen arches depends entirely on the severity of the symptoms. If you do not experience any pain or discomfort, then you will probably not require treatment, but here are some of the steps we take with patients who come in with painful and problematic fallen arches.
- As chiropractors, we believe in the power of stretching. We will recommend different stretching techniques that will help alleviate pain in the feet and legs.
- In inflammation and pain cases, we may recommend rest, hot or cold modalities, and even pain relief medication to reduce swelling and help make the pain more manageable for further treatment.
- Custom orthotics and even orthopedic shoes with customized orthotics as the footbed has offered great results to those seeking to get back to a pain-free lifestyle quickly. It all starts with a proper gait evaluation, and our West Vancouver Chiropractor can help cast you a customized solution right away.
- In some cases, where the bones around the arch of your foot might have slightly moved out of place, our West Vancouver Chiropractor may be able to manipulate it back in place. This reduction of a subluxated joint can bring immediate relief and get you back to walking normally again.
Overall, fallen arches are not considered a serious condition. However, if you do start to feel worsening symptoms, there’s no reason not to seek treatment to help you feel more comfortable on your feet. Our job as chiropractors is to get you back to feeling normal – the first step is to make an appointment to have your feet evaluated first.
