There are a few easy ways to tell if you have flat feet. People who have flat feet usually see the entire sole of their foot touch the floor when they stand up. This condition can be caused by the arches not entirely developing during childhood, develop after an injury, or from simple wear-and-tear. Flat feet can contribute to problems in the ankles, and knees causing misalignment of the legs.
Not sure if you have flat feet? It's easy to test for. Simply follow these three steps:
- Get your feet wet
- Stand on a flat surface where your footprint will be clearly visible
- Step away and look at the prints. If you see complete imprints of the bottom of your foot, then you likely have flat feet
Flat feet is more common in children, however as they grow, so do their arches. Flat feet in adults can arise from a variety of causes, including:
- An abnormality that is present from birth
- Stretched or torn tendons
- Damaged or inflamed posterior tibial tendon. This tendon connects from your lower leg to the middle of your arch
- Broken or dislocated bones
- Nerve problems or rheumatoid arthritis
