Flat Feet

Flat Feet services offered in Henderson, NV & Las Vegas, NV

You have flat feet, a condition known as flatfoot, when there's a problem with the arch in the middle of your foot. This condition doesn't always cause problems, but if your flat feet are painful, the Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center team can help. They provide non-surgical treatments that reduce the stress on your feet and relieve your symptoms so you can enjoy an active life free of foot pain. Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center has offices in Henderson and Las Vegas, Nevada. Call your nearest location today or book an appointment online.

Flat Feet Q & A

What are flat feet?

Normal feet have an upward curvature (arch) in the middle that you can see when you stand up. If you have flat feet, you can't see this arch because there's little or no space between your soles and the ground when you stand.

Flexible flat feet are the most common kind, where you have an arch when you're sitting, but your foot flattens as you stand. Rigid flat feet don't have any arch, even when you sit down.

What causes flat feet?

Babies have flat feet when they're born, and the arches then develop when they're about 6 months old. This doesn't happen in some babies, so they grow up with flat feet. In other cases, flat feet develop later in life.

Certain risk factors increase your chance of having flat feet. These include:

Foot or ankle injuries
Fractures
Diabetes
Obesity
Pregnancy
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Cerebral palsy
Aging

Many people who have flat feet suffer no pain or other difficulties because of them. However, you should seek help if your flat feet are causing problems.

How might flat feet affect me?

Signs that your flat feet need treatment include:

Painful feet or legs
Leg cramps
Pain when walking
Gait changes (how you walk)
Changes in the shape of your toes

You might find that your feet ache on the soles and become very uncomfortable, but you struggle to find footwear that alleviates your discomfort.

How are flat feet treated?

If your flat feet are causing only mild symptoms or occasional discomfort, rest, ice packs, and over-the-counter pain medication should provide relief. However, if your symptoms persist or worsen, you should visit Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center.

Their team offers customized physical therapy to increase the strength and flexibility of your feet without straining them. You could also benefit from supportive devices like braces. One of the most effective treatments for mild flat feet is custom orthotics (supportive shoe inserts). Orthotics help by altering your weight distribution and relieving pressure on your feet.

Severely flat feet that aren't responding to other treatments might require surgery. This could involve osteotomy, where your surgeon cuts and rearranges the bones in your feet, joint fusion, or tendon transfers.

If your flat feet are becoming bothersome, call Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center to find out about effective therapies, or schedule a consultation using the online booking form.