Flatfoot Specialist

PMC Foot and Ankle Clinic Eric Blanson, DPM Our Services Flatfoot
Eric Blanson, DPM - - Sports Medicine

PMC Foot and Ankle Clinic

Eric Blanson, DPM

Sports Medicine & Foot and Ankle Surgeon located in Woodlands, Shenandoah, TX

All children are born with flat feet, but in cases of flatfoot, either an arch doesn’t form in childhood or deformities develop in adulthood. While flatfoot is often nothing to be concerned about, it can sometimes cause pain and other issues. At PMC Foot and Ankle Clinic, Eric Blanson, DPM, has the expertise to treat the symptoms of flatfoot and prevent further complications from arising. To learn more about flatfoot and how you can correct it, call the office in Spring, Texas, or use the online booking tool to make an appointment.

Flatfoot Q & A

What is flatfoot?

Flatfoot is a deformity of the foot that occurs when your foot has no arch, and the entire sole of your foot touches the ground when you stand. 

The arch in your foot supports you when you stand and walk, and while it’s often a painless condition, flatfoot can alter the alignment of your legs and lead to problems in your knees or ankles. 

You may also have foot pain, especially around the heel or arch, and swelling along the inside of your ankle.

What causes flatfoot?

Flatfoot can occur when patients don’t develop arches in their feet during childhood. Flatfoot is a normal condition in infants and toddlers, but the condition can become permanent due to factors like heredity, loose ligaments, a tight Achilles tendon, and a lack of exercise.

Flatfoot can also develop well into adulthood, and certain factors can also increase your chance of developing flatfoot. They include:

  • Obesity
  • Injury to your foot
  • Arthritis
  • Age
  • Diabetes

Adult onset flatfoot usually develops gradually as years of wear-and-tear weaken the tendon that helps support the arch.

What are the symptoms of flatfoot?

The most noticeable symptom of flatfoot is the decrease or lack of arches in your feet, along with pain on the inner side of your foot. Other symptoms include:

  • Inflammation of soft tissue
  • Foot or leg weakness
  • Foot or ankle pain
  • Knee, hip, or lower back pain
  • Abnormal walking patterns
  • Bunions
  • Hammertoe
  • Plantar fasciitis

Many patients don’t experience pain or other abnormalities as a result of flatfoot. However, if you have aches, PMC Foot and Ankle Clinic can help.

How do you treat flatfoot?

Your provider at PMC Foot and Ankle Clinic performs a physical exam and an X-ray imaging test to determine the cause and type of your flatfoot condition. 

Children’s feet are more flexible because they’re still developing, and most younger patients benefit from treatments that may include custom insoles for shoes, support braces, more comfortable footwear, and exercise.

For adults with flatfoot, the practice offers various noninvasive treatments to stop your arches from further flattening. These include:

  • Custom orthotics
  • Support braces
  • Physical therapy
  • Weight loss
  • Medication
  • Daily activity modifications

For more advanced cases in both children and adults, your provider can discuss various surgical options. 

To learn more about your various treatment options, call the office or use the online scheduling tool to book an appointment.