MD Podiatrist Discusses Flatfoot Syndrome

“Flat arches [are] commonly seen in adults and children,” says podiatrist Dan Michaels, DPM. “It is most commonly hereditary, but it can [also] be acquired with time, in conjunction with all the cumulative ground-reactive forces exerted on the feet with walking, [as well as] certain medical conditions.”
 

If you’ve always had flat feet [without problems], cool! If this is something new, you may want to see a podiatrist. Dr. Michaels says that ‘acquired adult flatfoot syndrome’ is something that “may present as pain, arch fatigue, swelling,” as well as decreased strength and a change to your gait. Your podiatrist can run tests and take x-rays and MRIs to sort things out for you.