Flat Feet (Pes Planus) , Physical Therapy, New Jersey, NJ

Feet usually have an arch on the inside portion of the foot. A flat foot is a foot that has lost or never developed this arch. Most flat feet are flexible. This type does not cause problems and does not require treatment. Rigid flat feet can cause problems and are best treated. Infants and young children naturally have flat feet. The arch should develop over time. Sometimes, the arch does not develop. It is not always clear why this happens. It may be associated with Physical therapy may relieve discomfort. You may be given a specific stretching and strength program. You may also have treatment to help manage the discomfort. If your child has flat feet , there may be no need for worry – it could be normal for their age. Many parents become concerned when they notice that their child has flat feet Depending on the age of your child, it may be nothing to worry about or it may indicate fallen arches, which Podiatrists call pes planus Remember, wear arch supports if you are standing, exercising, shopping, working, and always at home. A number of products are available in stores near you. Start today, and you'll be amazed at how much better you will feel. Baker cysts arise from the gastrocnemius and/or semimembranosus bursa in the posterior knee. The gastrocnemius bursa lies between the medial head of the gastrocnemius and the joint capsule and communicates with the knee joint. The semimembranosus muscle sends tendon insertions to the posteromedial tibia behind the MCL, and a direct head inserts more posterior and distal as well. These insertions are superior and posterior to the insertion of the conjoined pes anserinus tendons and the pes anserine bursa. Having flat feet is normal in babies until they are about two years old. More often than not, as parents we confused a child's fat feet with flat feet. The pictures below correspond to the same feet as above but no weight is put on it and you can visibly observe the arch. This is called a flexible flatfoot. If the child doesn't complain of pain, it is ok but if pain develops or there is discomfort during any activities, it is highly recommended that you see a doctor and would most likely recommend you to a physical therapist. Flat foot can also be congenital or rigid which is rare. Tip-toeing while walking and skipping rope also helps form a natural arch for older kids, if they are already physically able to do so. No matter how serious you may or may not be about a particular sport, whether you are a recreational or professional athlete, you may want to consider getting a coach. A little knowledge can go a long way in not only improving performance but in preventing injury. Although painful and frustrating, plantar fasciitis is treatable and the sooner it is properly diagnosed and treated, the faster it will heal. If you are active or thinking about starting a new training program, be sure to follow the PETR Principles of preparation, equipment, technique and recovery and you can learn to avoid many other overuse type injuries as well. Flat foot or fallen arch is a common foot deformity that is medically known as ‘pes planus’ and is characterized by the presence of flat arches of the foot. This means that the entire bottom region of your bare foot is touching the ground. As opposed to contrary belief, it is completely normal to have a flat foot. Cross-training shoes – These are the best shoes for flat feet for they are designed in a manner to support smooth side-to-side movement. The runner shoes on the other hand concentrate on the forward motion which does not compliment the anatomy of a flat foot resulting in soreness and severe aching. If a child older than age 3 develops symptoms, the doctor may prescribe a therapeutic shoe insert made from a mold of the child's foot or a corrective shoe. As an alternative, some doctors recommend store-bought arch supports. These appear to work as well as more expensive treatments in many children. With any conservative, nonsurgical treatment, the goal is to relieve pain by supporting the arch and correcting any imbalance in the mechanics of the foot. Flatfeet is a condition where the longitudinal arch of the foot is absent. It is also called or pes valgus , since the heel or hindfoot is often in valgus or flared outwards. Every day people all over the world are born with flat feet. Many are extremely active, running, playing soccer and doing heavy labor. This begs the question, how are some individuals with flat feet perfectly fine, even when active, and others get a lifetime of foot and leg pain? First we must look at how a normal foot works as opposed to a troubled one. More-complicated, resistant cases of SPP are corrected utilizing different osseous (bone) procedures. These procedures actually change (correct) the architecture of the foot to improve function. The most-complicated, resistant cases of SPP are corrected with a combination of both soft tissue/tendon procedures and osseous procedures. In the child before age 3, the normal longitudinal arch of the foot is present, but often masked by the fat pad in the instep. Hence all young children before age 3 look flat-footed, even though they are not. After age 3, the fat pad disappears, and the arch becomes more evident. Rigid flatfeet is more serious, and can be painful. Congenital convex pes valgus is present at birth, and is obvious to any observer. The foot is very rigid and need aggressive treatment. Tarsal coalition presents at around age 10 when the child starts to complain of foot pain during activities.