Most people's feet have a space on the inner side where the bottom of the foot is off the ground (the "arch" of the foot). The height of this arch varies a lot from one person to another. Small children do not have an arch: it develops between the ages of 3 and 10. People who have a low arch, or no arch at all are said to have flat feet. Sometimes they are said to have "fallen arches", but as most of these people always had a low arch the term is misleading.
In many people, that is just the shape the foot is. It may run in the family, and both feet are usually much the same and reasonably supple.
Flat foot is usually seen in 2 age groups. One in Children who never seemed to have developed an arch due to various reasons or some times in adults who had a normal arch but later develop in later in period of life. This entity is due to failure of multiple causes like muscle, ligaments or tendons leading to collapse of the mid foot with hind foot deviating to the outer side. This entity which was previously known as Adult Acquired flat foot is now termed as Progressive Collapsing foot Deformity.
Some people with diseases of the nervous system or muscles such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida or muscular dystrophy may develop flat feet because some of their muscles are weak and their muscles do not work well together. Their feet are usually stiff and the deformity tends to get worse with time.
As far as child hood flat feet it is usually none though some obese children do develops aches and pains as they walk with overpronated feet. In long run however there seemed to be increased arthritic changes due to changed shape of the limb and gait.
Flat feet that develops in the later period of life on the contrary is quite painful. Here there is progressive collapse of the arch due to multipe failures of bone, muscle and ligament complex.
Most pediatric flat feet cause no trouble may not cause much trouble but needs supervision. You should consider consulting your Foot and Ankle surgeon if
Most people whose flat feet ache feel better in well-fitted shoes: sometimes an extra-broad fitting helps by decreasing the pronation of the foot.
Children who have an abnormal foot because it has not developed properly may need an operation to straighten the foot or to separate fused bones. These flat feet are usually rigid and less common. In those children who have flexible flat feet needs to be supervised by the age of 8 or 9. If the pronation is too much then he/she might require surgical intervention to prevent the talo calcaneal subluxation with Extra osseous Talo-Tarsal stabilization ( EOTTS)
An Adult with painful flat foot usually requires surgery though in early stages, it can be managed with braces and proper insoles. However with progression of stages arthritis might develop and these people will need an operation to straighten their foot. The surgery may involve bone, muscle and ligaments realignment to get the shape of the foot correct.
Probably not. Although the common causes of flat feet tend to run in families, it is now known that foot wear does not treat the flat feet.
It used to be thought that flat feet in children should be treated in special shoes, insoles or callipers to stop problems developing in later life. We now know that this was wrong. These treatments do not work. There is no evidence that treating flat feet in childhood prevents problems in adult life and most of these children will not get problems as adults even if left untreated.