FLAT FEET

Pes Planus — more commonly known as flat feet — is a structural problem where the foot has lost its arch. As a result, the entire bottom of the foot makes contact with the ground. Flat feet are a common condition, especially in children, or in older people who have lost strength in their tendons with age. In some cases, flat feet develop after a foot or ankle injury.

For most people, Pes Planus is painless and asymptomatic. However, this condition can lead to problems in ankle and knee alignment. What could be of minimal concern to the average person can be a big issue for any type of athlete. Without an arch, the foot tends to overpronate, or roll inwards. This places more stress on the foot, and provides less stability. Athletes who are constantly running, jumping, and pivoting on flat feet will be striking their feet at an unnatural angle, which might lead to pain in nearby joints, or other foot problems like plantar fasciitis.

Risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, arthritis, and pregnancy can make it more likely that an adult will acquire flat feet later in life. However, at MOTUS many of the Pes Planus conditions we treat have occurred as a result of arch weakness from overuse, or an injury like a rupture of the posterior tibial tendon. The arch of the foot is supported by the posterior tibialis tendon, as well as several other ligaments and muscle. Injury to any of these could cause flat feet to develop. The condition can also develop in athletes with excessive tightness in the Achilles tendon or calf muscles