Pes planus

Alternative names:

flat feet, fallen arches; pes planovalgus; pronation of feet

Definition:

A condition where more of the foot surface is in contact with the ground than normal; it results from a decreased or absent longitudinal (toe to heel) arch.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Flat feet are a common condition. In infants and toddlers, the longitudinal arch is not developed and flat feet are normal. The arch develops in childhood, and by adulthood only one in seven adults has flat feet. The majority of flat feet are considered variations of normal. Most feet are flexible and an arch appears when the person stands on his or her toes. Stiff, inflexible flat feet may be associated with other conditions and require attention.

Many variations of flat feet usually do not cause pain or other problems. Flat feet may be associated with pronation, a leaning inward of the ankle bones toward the center line. Shoes of children who pronate, when placed side by side, will lean towards each other (after they have been worn long enough for the foot position to remodel their shape).

Foot pain or lower leg pain, especially in children, may be a result of flat feet and should be evaluated by a health care provider.