This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Go to /pro/cpd-dashboard page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. CPD dashboard

Go to /account/subscription-details page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. Upgrade to Pro

Flat foot

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Flat foot is a lack of the medial arch of the foot. The development of the medial arch occurs within 2-3 years of walking. In younger children the medial arch is largely obliterated by a fat pad.

  • most children have flexible flat feet with normal arches on tiptoeing; most resolve by 6 years (1)

Flat feet may be a familial condition or it may reflect joint laxity. Flat feet are insignificant if the foot is pain free, mobile and develops an arch when the patient stands on tiptoe.

Occasional underlying causes of flat feet include neurological problems and pathological joint laxity. Sometimes severe convex flat feet may be due to congenital vertical talus. The latter condition necessitates early surgical intervention in order to avoid crippling deformity in later life.

Reference:

  • (1) ARC. Sports-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders. Reports on the Rheumatic Diseases 2008;14.

Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.