All babies' feet look flat because they haven't developed arches yet. As children grow, their feet normally form arches by age 2 or 3. A person who does not develop normal arches has flat feet, also known as fallen arches, owing to the way the arch appears to flatten when the person puts his weight on it.
Flat Foot Test
You can do an easy test to determine whether you truly have flat feet. Dip your foot in water and then step on something dry and flat, such as concrete, where your foot will leave a visible footprint. A normal footprint shows the heel and toes, with a wide, curved band---from the outer edge of the foot---connecting them. A flat foot's print forms the shape of a nearly complete foot, as the arch is low enough to touch the ground and leave an imprint. The flatness of the arch indicates that tendons, ligaments and tissues in the feet are more flexible than normal.
Flat Feet in Children
Most children with flat feet won't have any issues as a result, but if your child complains of pain when she is walking or running, she needs to see a doctor. Some flat feet are the result of fused foot bones, and an X-ray can reveal this rare problem. Most kids can wear an insert in their shoes or a heel cup that eases the pain. As long as your child wants to keep running, you don't have to limit her regular activities, as they will not make her flat feet any worse.
Running with Flat Feet
Podiatry Network writer Douglas H. Richie, Jr., D.P.M., describes an adult's painful flat feet as resulting from already-flat feet becoming deformed because of stretched-out tendons and ligaments that support the arch. If you are runner and do not wear supportive shoes, warns the Foot.com foot health network, your feet may overpronate---flatten and roll inward---causing stress to the foot and leading to pain or other foot and calf problems. The American Podiatric Medical Association recommends purchasing a stable, motion-control shoe that corrects the tendency of the flat foot to overpronate. The APMA publishes a list of recognized running shoes, including models from Avia, Ryka, ASICS, Mizuno, Puma and Reebok. See a doctor early if you have foot pain from flat feet because to get relief you may require nothing more than rest and a cast or brace used to support your feet when you walk. Once the pain is gone, your doctor can help you choose orthopedic or athletic shoes to keep symptoms at bay.
Barefoot Running
Dr. Michael Nirenberg of America's Podiatrist explains that up to 30 percent of people have flat feet, and he cites an Indian study, which found that the few children in India who wore shoes were three times more likely to have flat feet. Dr. Nirenberg theorizes that shoes, even well-constructed shoes designed for running and walking, may limit the exercise of your foot muscles, causing them to become even flatter. He does admit that reports of flat feet being "cured" by running barefoot are anecdotal, and the benefits of barefoot running are still being debated.
References
- Running Shoes for High Arches: How to Choose Running Shoes by Arch Type
- Podiatry Network: Adult Flatfoot
- America's Podiatrist: Can Barefoot Running & Walking Fix Flat Feet?
- American Podiatric Medical Association: Which Running Shoe is Right for You?
- Family Doctor: Flat Feet in Children
- Foot.com: Over Pronation
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