Fallen arches or flat feet

I knew my dad had fallen arches because when we walked along the sand I could see his arches touched the ground whereas mine didn’t. I had an inch that didn’t touch the floor.

What are the symptoms?

They’re painless but some people have pain in the heel or swelling on the inside of the ankle.

Babies are normally born with flat feet as the foot’s arch has not developed.

Arches can fall over time, due to wear and tear of the tendon that runs along the inside of your ankle and helps support your arch.

How is it diagnosed?

Your doctor will examine your feet and might look at the wear on your shoes too.

If you’re having any pain, your doctor might request an X-ray, CT scan, an ultrasound or MRI.

What’s the treatment?

Usually no treatment is necessary but if your flat feet are painful, your GP might refer you to a podiatrist. They will assess your feet for specially made arch supports to help relieve the pain.

The podiatrist can also supply shoes that fully support your feet and will probably want to see you a couple of times to check up on you.