Flat Feet Treatment in Dubai
What is Flat Feet
Flat feet is the loss of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot. In general, the foot has an arch in both directions, meaning from front to back and from side to side. The arches are maintained by the shape of the foot bones, the ligaments attached to the bones to keep the arches at rest, and the power of muscular tendons, which keep the arches when you are walking and running.
Causes of flat feet
- Genetic reasons; flat feet can be passed down through the genes from parents to children.
- Weak arches, which means that the arch is visible and quite apparent when a person sits, but the foot flattens when they stand.
- Injuries to the feet or ankles
- Excess weight puts strain on the arches of the feet.
- Arthritis, also known as rheumatoid arthritis
- The posterior tibial tendon may be damaged, dysfunctional, or ruptured.
- Spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, and cerebral palsy are examples of the nervous system or muscle diseases.
Symptoms of flat feet
One of the most typical symptoms of flat feet is foot pain. This can be caused by strained muscles and connecting ligaments. Pain in the knee and hip may result from abnormal stresses on these joints. If the ankles turn inward, these stresses are more likely.
Pain, as well as swelling or stiffness, most signs show up in the following parts of the body:
- Ankle
- Foot arch
- Calf
- Knee
- Hip
- Lower back
- Lower legs
Flat feet can also result in uneven weight distribution. This can cause shoes to wear unevenly or more quickly than usual, particularly on one side, which
Physiological flat feet in children and adults (Flexible flat feet)
Flat foot can be part of normal development. A newborn child has minimal or no arch due to fat pad and ligament laxity. 45% of children aged 3-6 have flattening of the long arch. Most of these children spontaneously develop a strong normal arch by the age of 10-12 years. Some children continue to have flattened arches even into their adulthood.
Around 20% of the population has flat feet, most of whom lack physiological arch development, probably due to ligament laxity. This is mostly genetic and runs in families. The majority have a flexible flat foot, meaning all the joints are completely normal and mobile. They do not have pain and lead a normal life. We have noticed that a flat foot in children and adults does not stop them from pursuing sports. There are numerous examples of well-recognised elite athletes who have flat feet.
If some have pain and tightness of the heel cord, we advised a course of physiotherapy to stretch the tightened heel cord and correctly measure custom-made insoles. Weight reduction is good for keeping yourself agile and adding less strain to the feet. General fitness and being active are important. No surgical treatment is necessary.
Stiff, flat feet in Adolescents (Tarsal coalition)(Congenital bar)
In 1-2% of children are born with a congenital condition called tarsal coalition. In the embryonic developmental stage, 2 bones in the foot do not separate and continue to be stuck together into the teenage. The condition is usually painless but may present with flat foot deformity and recurrent ankle sprains. They may complain of pain around the age of 8-15 years.
The diagnosis is made by x-rays of the foot. Sometimes an MRI scan is done to confirm.
Flat feet treatment in Dubai is usually done with some painkillers and good arch-supporting insoles. If the congenital bar is painful, it can be removed with a simple surgical procedure.
Adult flat feet (PTTD – Posterior tibialis tendon dysfunction)
This is an important condition to differentiate from the above two. Normally they have good arches in the feet. In this condition, a few middle-aged people develop pain on the inside of the ankle and foot and eventually develop a loss of arch on one side.
What is adult flat feet?
This is a degenerative disease of a tibialis posterior tendon. This big tendon which is on the inside of the ankle and foot, is responsible for maintaining the arch in normal walking and climbing stairs. This condition is common in women in their 40s and who are obese. It starts off as inflammation and may lead to partial rupture over 6-9 months.
What complaints do patients have?
They complain of swelling and pain inside the ankle and foot. They show weakness in brisk walking and find difficulty in going up and down the stairs. Patients feel as if they lost a spring in their feet and easily tire of walking.
How does your doctor diagnose tendon weakness?
Your doctor takes a detailed history and does a thorough clinical examination. The doctor will test the power of the tendon. You will need standing x-rays. An MRI scan is done to confirm the tendon tear.
Flat Feet treatment in Dubai
The condition goes through 4 different stages as synovitis, tendon weakness, flexible loss of arch and finally, stiffened flat foot. Management depends on what stage is the condition. Almost all of them are given a period of rest in a walking boot for 3-4 weeks. Anti-inflammatory tablets are prescribed for pain. Good custom-made orthotics are given to correct the arch. Physiotherapy is indicated to improve muscle strength.
Surgical corrections are advised when the pain is an ongoing issue and a flat foot cannot be managed by insoles. If the joints are still supple, as in the early stages, a heel corrective osteotomy (calcaneal slide) with tendon transfer (replace the torn tendon with another nearby tendon) is advised. If the joints are stiff and arthritic, triple corrective fusion surgery is done. This fusion surgery stiffens the deformed painful joints resulting in a well-positioned pain-free foot.
Dr KP Meda is a thorough expert in this field, having several years of experience. He conducts a detailed analysis of each case and provides customised lines of treatment to his patients. He opts for surgeries only when utterly required, thereby always keeping a minimally invasive approach. Thus, you can certainly rely on him for your flat feet treatment in Dubai.
