Health Talk

Pes Planus or also called as Flat Feet or Fallen Arches is a medical condition that involves disorders of the arch of the foot. The condition happens when the arch never fully develops or collapses in either one foot or both feet which makes the entire or near-complete sole making a contact with the ground.

Pes Planus in infants are normal because the arch is not yet fully developed because of baby fat. The development starts at the age of three together with the normal growth of muscle, tendon, ligament and bone. But cases of flat feet in children are now increasing with unknown causes or maybe associated with other conditions but experts suggests its a congenital condition.

Aside from being a congenital condition, medical experts are also looking at tarsal coalition disorder. This is a condition where two or more of the foot bones fuse together, which leads to limited motion of the foot and undeveloped arch that will then results in having a flat foot.

More children now a days are prone to this condition which are mostly related to any foot injuries, any types of foot diseases, symptoms of the foot or in other parts of the body. It can also occur in adults as part of the normal aging process, too much stress to the foot or the same as the previously mentioned factors.

Best thing for parents is to keep monitoring their child's growth. Having difficulty walking and standing in a long time are noticeable traits of flat feet so parents must always keep visual inspection for early diagnosis. Other symptoms are foot pain, ankle pain, lower leg pain, muscle pain and discomforts in the knee joints.

Experts can easily diagnose a flat foot by just looking at them in a standing position. Another form of home diagnosis is by looking at footprints of your child. You can do this by wetting the feet in water then standing on a smooth, level surfaced concrete. The more the sole of the foot makes mark (footprint), the flatter the foot.

Experts suggests that people with flat foot must try walking barefoot over a rough terrain such as the beach where muscles are exercised. Recent study also reveals that children who had grown up wearing a closed-toe shoes are more prone in developing flat feet than those barefoot or wearing sandals or slippers in children.

Pes Planus is not a serious condition and should not pose great concern but definitely can impair normal functions of the feet. Treatment is necessary if the patient is suffering any pain from the lower leg up to the foot or if the condition already affects the back and the knees. Treatment includes using orthoses like arch support, foot gymnastics or therapies required by the physician.

These information are important to give you ideas about the symptoms and simple diagnosis of flat foot. Make sure that you maintain visual inspection of your child to correct early symptoms of pes planus.

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