Many people think they are born with flat feet. While this may be true, and some people really are flat-footed for most of their life, the reality is that our arches collapse as we age. We all become more flat-footed. That flattening over time can cause pain and discomfort.
Arthritis is another contributing factor to foot pain. Flat feet and arthritis are often co-occurring issues. People also don’t realize that when they experience pain elsewhere in the body, the source could be their feet. Pain in the lower back and neck, for example, may be caused by an imbalance in the feet.
How Our Feet Change As We Age
The arches of the feet act like springs to help distribute our body weight and move with ease. As we age, the ligaments in the arches naturally tear and separate, causing our arches to fall ― which is why many people experience foot pain. However, the pain caused by flat feet or falling arches is often mistaken as arthritis or plantar fasciitis. As a result, the pain is not always treated effectively, is self-treated incorrectly or isn’t treated at all.
When the arches of our feet change, it causes the rest of our body to redistribute our weight. This is why some of the most common areas people with flat feet or fallen arches experience pain are the calves, knee, hip, lower legs and lower back. An indicator that your arches have changed is to examine the wear on the bottom of your shoes. If you notice uneven wear across both shoes, then your arches could be throwing your body weight off balance.
Flat feet have several causes, including genetics, so it may be important to have children’s feet treated early so they don’t experience discomfort. Another cause can be related to a foot or ankle injury, as well as diabetes and obesity. There is also a strong correlation between flat feet and arthritis. Flat feet cause less stability in the ligaments, which can result in more strain on the joints of the body. If this continues for a long period of time, arthritis sets in.
When we experience pain in our joints, we adjust our bodies accordingly, which sometimes means that we walk more heavily on one side, carry our weight unevenly or use one part of the body more than another. Over time, this increases stress and leads to greater discomfort.
Different Treatments Can Help Flat Feet
Flat feet and fallen arches need treatment when a person is feeling pain or discomfort. Treatment can range from orthotic insoles placed in the shoes to regular chiropractic care. In fact, receiving regular chiropractic adjustments in tandem with wearing orthotics prolongs the positive effects of adjustments. Many chiropractors understand the importance of healthy, functional feet for optimal operation of the entire body. Thus, it is common for chiropractors to examine your feet first.
If someone is already experiencing pain and discomfort related to arthritis, treating the feet with custom orthotics may provide greater relief than traditional arthritis remedies. Wearing an orthotic insole made specifically for each one of your feet can help reduce stress on your joints. The need to favor one side of the body over the other diminishes.
Whether you are born flat-footed or not, the arches of your feet will inevitably fall throughout your lifetime. If you are experiencing foot pain then do not ignore it, because relief could be as simple as sliding in an insole.
