Flat feet can have a variety of effects on our body. The development of flatfeet could be hereditary or acquired, though its most often a combination of the two! When flatfoot syndrome affects one or both feet, the foot arches begin to collapse, and one’s entire sole touches the ground when standing due to the lack of stability. Flatness of the foot in trun, could result in worsening pain due to plantar fasciitis, bunion pain or tendon inflammation.
In addition, quite commonly, flatfoot syndrome typically also results in poor walking pattern, poor stability when standing and weaker push-off strength when running or sprinting.
Can Flat Foot Be Cured?
Flat foot, also commonly referred to as fallen arches, occurs when a person has very low or no arch in his/her feet at all.
Some people with flat feet have no symptoms and therefore do not require any treatment. However, seeing a doctor may be advisable if you encounter the following flat foot symptoms:
- Painful or aches in your feet
- Difficulty or tightness in foot movement
- Foot, arch, and leg fatigue or weakness
- When the inside of the bottoms of the feet become swollen.
There are some flat feet pain relief options that your doctor can recommend to alleviate or correct flat feet.
- Arch support. Arch support may help relieve flat feet pain. It could be over-the-counter or custom-designed arch supports. Arch supports are not a cure, but give you flat foot pain relief and reduces its symptoms.
- Exercise for flat feet or fallen arches. There are certain flat foot exercises you can do that could help correct and strengthen the arches and therefore reduce flat foot pain. Some of the flat foot treatment exercises include heel stretches, tennis/ golf ball rolls, arch lifts, toe raises, calf raises, stair arch raises, and towel curls.
- Supportive shoes. Supportive shoes will not correct the shape of your feet but will help reduce the pain and stiffness. A foot specialist can offer advice about what shoes to wear, the sort of shoe insoles to support your feet both indoors and outdoors.
- Surgery. Surgery may be recommended by the doctor if the flatfeet is associated with an injury such as a tendon tear, ligament tear or progressive arthritis.
What Causes Flat Foot?
In infants and toddlers, a flat foot is normal. This is because the arch of the foot has not yet developed. Mostly, foot arches develop throughout childhood. However, if the incorrect bone development is the cause of flat feet in a child, for example, spina bifida, there may be an underlying cause that needs to be addressed by a doctor.
Flat feet in children may be predisposed by hereditary factors, laxity of ligaments, a tight Achilles tendon, and lack of foot exercise.
Progressing into adolescence and adulthood,. other factors such obesity, pregnancy, diabetes, and a coalition of rearfoot joints may all hasten the symptoms in a patient with pre-existing flatfoot deformity.
What is Keyhole Bunion Surgery?
A bunion is a bony bump at the joint at the base of your big toe. It forms when bones in the front part of your foot or tissue at the joint at the bottom of the big toe move out of place.
Some techniques your doctor may suggest to correct bunions before going to surgery are wearing comfortable wide-toe box shoes and using splints to reposition and straighten the toe. If these techniques do not work, then surgery is recommended.
Keyhole Bunion surgery also referred to as MIS (Minimally Invasive), is one of the surgical techniques to correct bunions by using small keyholes. In this surgery, swelling of the forefoot may take three (3) months. To aid the process, your doctor will recommend you to wear proper shoes, elevate the foot when seated, and physiotherapy. After 3 months after the surgery, you can already walk, run and do other things such as wearing heels.
Do Bunion Correctors Work?
Bunion correctors do not cure bunions for the long term. They do not correct bunions, but temporarily reduce the pain, make the big toe look straighter, and improve the position of a mal-aligned toe and reduce pressure on the big joint by stretching the toe back into its original position.
Likewise, there is no natural remedy for bunions. Bunion surgery is the only reliable way to correct bunions.
How Long Is the Recovery After Minimally Invasive Bunion Surgery?
Immediately after the surgery, most patients will stay in hospital for 1 night. . After your minimally invasive bunion surgery, with the aid of a special shoe, you will be able to walk immediately. Take note that a dressing will be applied in the OR or operating room and should be left untouched until the first dressing change by the specialist on Day 4. .
At about 6 to 8 weeks post surgery, you can slowly return to your everyday activities. At around 10 to 12 weeks, you can fully return to your activities including sports, running, etc.
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