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Flat Foot (Visit Resource)
Pediatrics: Flat Foot Almost all normal babies are born with flat foot. The medial longitudinal arch, or simply the arch, of the foot does not develop fully until the end of the first decade of life. In approximately 20% of children, an arch does not develop. For these children, no non-surgical treatment will create an arch, including special "orthopaedic" shoes or inserts, exercises, or physical therapy. Flat-footed children grow up to become flat-footed adults. Flat foot in and of itself is not abnormal. Approximately 20% of adults have flat foot. Flat foot does not produce disability or other problems as long as: 1. The foot is supple 2. The heel cord, or Achilles tendon, is not tight. This is termed flexible flat foot. A supple foot looks flat when the person stands on the whole foot (referred to as the "loaded" position), but an arch develops when the person gets off the foot ("unloaded") or when she or he stands on the toes
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Added: Wed Nov 29 2006
