If you have a flat foot, you might experience pain when walking, standing, or exercising. If the pain is persistent, the best way to curb it is by considering flat foot surgery in Singapore to diagnose the underlying cause and address it. Your podiatrist will recommend the best treatment option depending on what caused the flat foot and how severe the pain is. Overview of flat foot-
What is a flat foot? Overview of flat foot-
A flat foot is a postural condition that occurs when the inner arch of the foot collapses, thus causing the whole foot to touch the ground when you stand. https://www.orthofootmd.com/flat-foot-surgery/ A flat foot, also known as pes planus, commonly occurs when the foot arches don’t fully develop during the early stages of life.
What are the causes of flat feet?
Flat feet are common in small babies and toddlers because the tendons take some time to tighten and create an arch. The tendons may fail to tighten at times, thus causing flat feet. Other conditions that cause flat feet include:
- Injury
- Choice of footwear
- Underlying conditions such as diabetes, cerebral palsy, and Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction
How is flat foot diagnosed?
Although one can easily detect a flat foot, visiting a specialist is advisable to determine the underlying cause. The specialist will perform visual exams and imaging tests to understand your foot’s structure.
- Visual examination
Podiatrists can easily diagnose flat by just checking your feet. Other visual tests include:
- The wet footprint test
- The shoe inspection test
- The too many toes test
- The tiptoe test
- Imaging tests
Imaging tests are done if your flat foot is in pain. Imaging tests help the podiatrist to know the underlying cause of pain. Some imaging tests include Computed Tomography (CT) and X-rays, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and Ultrasound.
What treatments are available?
One can live with flat feet as long as no pain is involved. If the feet are painful, your specialist can perform a conservative approach to correct the problem. However, surgery can be done for those with more severe cases. People with mild symptoms can consider doing conventional treatment like:
- corticosteroids,
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs)
- Shockwave therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Orthotics
- Exercises such as foot gymnastics, runner’s stretch, therapeutic massages, and downward dog
Surgery
Doctors might recommend surgery to people with more severe cases. The most common surgery is when a doctor performs reconstructive surgery to reposition the tendons. The other surgical option is a minimally invasive surgery known as Extraosseous Tarsal Tunnel Stabilization (EOTTS). This procedure involves placing a titanium stent between the heel bone and the ankle so that it can correct the misalignment of the affected feet. This approach provides long-term solutions by preventing degenerative problems from recurring. Why suffer in silence while there is help near you. Reach out to the experts today!
In conclusion, it’s important to schedule an appointment with a specialist if you feel pain when standing, walking, or exercising. A specialist will discover and treat the condition early before it’s too late. Also, the podiatrist will guide you on the best treatment option for your flat foot.