Flat Feet

Kaplansky Foot and Ankle Centers

Podiatrists located in Columbus, OH & Reynoldsburg, OH

If your feet are flat, and the entire bottom of your foot touches the floor when you stand, your risk of developing other painful foot and ankle conditions increases. At Kaplansky Foot and Ankle Centers, with locations in Columbus and Reynoldsburg, Ohio, David Kaplansky, DPM and Anthony Cozzolino, DPM, provide treatments for flat feet ranging from custom orthotics to surgical reconstruction. Schedule an appointment online or by phone today if your flat feet are causing foot or ankle pain.

Flat Feet Q & A

What are flat feet?

Your foot should have a mild arch between the ball of your foot and your heel. However, some patients never develop arches, or their arches drop following an injury. You may or not experience any symptoms from your flat feet.

One way to tell if you have flat feet is to look at your footprint after you get out of the shower or a pool. A standard footprint creates a shape that slightly resembles a kidney bean. If you have flat feet, your footprint looks more like an oblong pancake, without a visible curve or arch. Additionally, if you have high arches, your footprint looks like two circles or ovals connected by a thin strip along one side.

What causes flat feet?

Infants and young children have flat feet because their arches haven’t formed. In some cases, your arches may never develop, leaving you with congenital flat feet. However, as you age your arches can fall. For example, years of wear and tear on your feet can weaken and stretch the tendon that supports your ankle and your arch.

Your risk of developing fallen arches increases if you’ve ever injured your foot or ankle or if you have a condition like obesity, diabetes, or rheumatoid arthritis.

When should I see a podiatrist for flat feet?

You may not have any issues stemming from your flat feet. However, if you have pain in your feet, ankles, knees, hips, or back, it could be due to a gait abnormality from your flat feet. If you have flat feet and pain, you should make an appointment with the expert podiatrists at Kaplansky Foot and Ankle Center for assessment and customized treatment.

What are the treatments for flat feet?

The podiatrists at Kaplansky Foot and Ankle Centers offer customized treatments to address your flat feet. Depending on your needs they may recommend orthotics or a change in footwear. You may also benefit from physical therapy or losing weight.

If your flat feet are severely impacting your life, your podiatrist may suggest reconstructive surgery. Surgery for flat feet involves removing and replacing the damaged tendon.

Surgery for flat feet involves reconstructive procedures to address weak joints and tendons often with tendon balancing techniques and reposition of bones and joints.

Call Kaplansky Foot and Ankle Centers or schedule an appointment online today if you have flat feet and are living with disruptive pain.

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