Flat Feet
Adult-acquired flatfoot is often a complex disorder with diverse symptoms and varying degrees of deformity and disability. There are several types of flatfoot, all of which have one characteristic in common-partial or total collapse (loss) of the arch.
Other characteristics shared by most types of flatfoot include:
“Toe drift,” where the toes and front part of the foot point outward.
The heel tilts toward the outside, and the ankle appears to turn in.
A short Achilles tendon, which causes the heel to lift off the ground earlier when walking and may act as a deforming force.
In addition, bunions and hammer toes can occur and cause pain in people with flexible flatfoot.
Health problems such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and obesity sometimes increase the risk of developing flatfoot and may (or may not) make it more difficult to treat.
This article provides a brief overview of the problems that can result in AAFD. Further details regarding the most common conditions that cause an acquired flatfoot and their treatment options are provided in separate articles. Links to those articles are provided.
Symptoms
As different types of flatfoot have different causes, the associated symptoms can be different for different people.
Some generalized symptoms are listed and explained below:
Pain along the course of the posterior tibial tendon, which lies on the inside of the foot and ankle. This can be associated with swelling on the inside of the ankle.
Pain that is worse with activity. High-intensity or impact activities, such as running and jumping, can be very difficult. Some patients can have difficulty walking or even standing for long periods of time and may experience pain at the inside of the ankle and in the arch of the foot.
When the foot collapses, the heel bone may shift position and put pressure on the outside ankle bone (fibula). This can cause pain in the bones and tendons on the outside of the ankle joint.
Patients with an old injury or arthritis in the middle of the foot can have painful, bony bumps on the top and inside of the foot. These make shoewear very difficult. Sometimes, the bony spurs are so large that they pinch the nerves, which can result in numbness and tingling on the top of the foot and into the toes.
Diabetic patients may not experience pain if they have damage to their nerves. They may only notice swelling or a large bump on the bottom of the foot. The large bump can cause skin problems, and an ulcer (a sore that does not heal) may develop if proper diabetic shoe wear is not used.