Flat Feet Specialist

Foot Healers

Podiatrists located in Brentwood, Chesterfield, Creve Coeur, St. Peters, & Webster, MO

Most children develop foot arches by the time they’re around 6 years old, but up to 20% never do so. Some adults have normal foot arches but then lose them, known as fallen arches. Regardless of why you have flat feet, it can potentially be a painful and frustrating problem that requires help from the podiatry specialists at Foot Healers. In their five locations in Brentwood, Chesterfield, Creve Coeur, St. Peters, and Shrewsbury, Missouri, the caring podiatrists design customized flatfoot solutions to meet your needs. Call the office nearest you or book your appointment with the online scheduling tool now.

Flat Feet Q & A

What are flat feet?

Flat feet means that your entire foot arch touches the ground when you’re standing. In some cases, flatfoot causes problems such as:

Overpronation, or inward-rolling ankles
Leg, ankle, and foot pain
Tired-feeling legs, ankles, and feet
Imbalanced walking patterns

Because flatfoot can change the way you move so significantly, it may cause you to continually put unusual pressure on certain parts of your feet. This can cause or at least contribute to other foot problems such as bunions, hammertoe, and plantar fasciitis.

If you think flat feet could be causing pain or other issues, it’s important to schedule an exam at Foot Healers as soon as possible.

What causes flat feet?

Children have flat feet at birth and normally develop an arch in early childhood. Some, however, never develop an arch into adulthood.

Other adults have an arch but gradually lose it due to wear-and-tear over the years. Factors like obesity and very heavy activity levels can potentially worsen normal wear-and-tear to bring on flatfoot faster.

How do you diagnose flat feet?

Your Foot Healers podiatrist reviews your medical history and asks you about your symptoms and concerns. They conduct an exam to check the way your feet, ankles, and legs function.

You'll run through a few tasks with your podiatrist, like standing on your toes and flexing your feet, so they can observe your feet both at rest and in motion.

Your podiatrist may request imaging tests like X-rays or ultrasound to find underlying issues like tendon injuries or arthritic joint damage that require treatment.

How do you treat flat feet?

Treatment often includes these options:

Custom orthotics to support your arch and reduce symptoms
Physical therapy to correct underlying issues
New footwear with good arch support
Stretching and strengthening exercises
Losing weight, if you’re overweight

It’s quite rare to need surgery to correct flat feet. Your podiatrist at Foot Healers can diagnose the problems that caused your flat feet, and then recommend a customized plan for pain relief.

If your flatfoot is causing problems, the Foot Healers team is ready with solutions. Call the office nearest you or use the online appointment scheduler to book your assessment today.

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