Everyone has felt pain in their feet from standing or walking around for too long. Being on your feet all day is exhausting, and it can really hurt your feet. With the amount of weight our feet bare over the years, the likelihood that some type of foot problem will arise is very likely. In fact, foot problems and diseases will affect 75% of Americans over their lifetime. One of the most common ailments that people have is a condition known as flat feet, in which the arch in the foot does not form normally, leaving the sole of the foot in close contact with the ground.
Flat feet do not always require the attention of an ankle and foot doctor. Many of the nearly 60 million Americans with flat feet experience no negative side effects whatsoever. Although they may bother you aesthetically speaking, you can carry on as usual with no need to seek treatment. Others, unfortunately, do feel the effects of having flat feet and might need help.
Flat feet can cause pain in your feet, ankles, hips and lower back. It can also cause a number of other foot abnormalities such as bunions, hammertoes and arch strains. If you notice that you are having flat foot pain, you should think about consulting your local podiatrist, or ankle and foot doctor, for a specialized flat foot treatment.
There are a number of simple treatments for flat feet, including flat foot insoles, taping your feet or taking anti-inflammatory medication. All of these treatments can be provided to you by your podiatrist after he or she assesses the severity of your problem. There are also a few things that you can do at home to try to alleviate some of the symptoms you are experiencing from flat feet. These include stretching, wearing supportive shoes and soaking your feet in water to improve circulation. This is a great source for more.