Your podiatrists at Glenroy Foot Clinic are experts in measuring and analysing your foot and leg posture whilst you’re standing and walking.

Flat Feet

Think you might have flat feet? Should you be worried?

Flat feet or severe pronation is a condition in which feet are “rolling in” when the person is standing and walking.  This gives the appearance that there is a lower arch of the foot. 

Foot, ankle or lower leg and knee pain (especially in children) could be caused by flat feet and should be evaluated by a podiatrist. 

Many people don’t realize they have flat feet. Problems in posture which can be caused, or worsened, by flat feet include: 

• Feet – bunions, hammer toes
• Heels – heel pain, and heel spurs
• Shins – shin splints
• Knees – chondromalacia patellae or cartilage damage to the knee cap
• Hips – greater trochanter bursitis or inflammation near the hip joint
• Spine – lower back pain, disc protrusion

Not only are flat feet a major contributor of lower back pain in the adult body, but it is also a common factor associated with so called “Growing Pains” in children.

Even if you are not currently having pain, flat feet can be cause for concern. It is also not always considered normal for children to have flat feet. If you do have or suspect you might have flat feet it is a good idea to see a podiatrist.

Treatment of “Flat Feet”

Your podiatrist at Glenroy Foot Clinic will carry out a detailed assessment of your feet, legs, pelvis and back to identify the cause.  Specific measurments with respect to different angles of your joints will be taken.  An analysis of your walking pattern is then performed. 

When required, a detailed orthotic prescription is written by the podiatrist for your individual requirements.  This script is used to manufacture the custom pair of orthoses for each unique foot.

The biomechanics involved in treating flat feet are complicated. Basically orthotics aim to control the feet by trying to keep it in a more stable and functional position.  By keeping the foot stable, the orthotic benefits the foot during the push off phase of gait.

Setting up a clear, concise and detailed treatment program to target why your problematic pronation exists and allowing for specific measurements in both feet is what the podiatrists at Glenroy Foot Clinic aim to achieve.

Flat Feet Causing Pain Higher Up

Suffering ankle, shin, knee, hip or back pain?

Glenroy Foot Clinic regularly see clients who experience these pains as a result of their poor foot posture. 

How does this happen? When the foot rolls in too far the joints in your knee, hip and back function awkwardly, resulting in stress, strain and injury to these structures. The following conditions can be caused by flat feet:

• Problems in the ankle such as tendonitis, tendon dysfunction, bony jamming, and synovitis .
• Shin pain caused by shin splints and stress fracture.
• Knee problems such as patellofemoral joint dysfunction, iliotibial band syndrome ,and wearing of the knee cartilage on one side causing 
• Lower back and pelvic problems due to repetitive strain or poor shock absorption abilities of a flat foot.

The good news is that the above mentioned conditions can be relieved with a combination of orthotics, footwear, gait training and exercises allowing you to get back to your active lifestyle.

At your appointment your podiatrist will take a thorough history, assess your joints and muscles, assess your posture and walking pattern and advises you on appropriate treatment to help keep healthy for life. 

Flat Feet in Your Child

Flat feet can be very problematic for children, however many children with flat feet will not experience problems until they reach adulthood. By this time permanent damage has already occurred to the joints in their feet and legs.

Problems which can be caused by flat feet include growth plate problems, stress fractures, collapsing of the arch, osteoarthritis in the feet and ankles, tendonitis, foot pain and injuries, knee, hip and back problems.  We generally don’t consider it normal for children to be experiencing pain or growing pains

If you suspect that your child has flat feet it is best that your child be assessed by a qualified and experienced podiatrist.