Do You Have Flat Feet? - 2 Second Check

2 Seconds to Check If You Have a Flat Foot!

Let’s look into what our feet do for us and how important they are to us. Flat foot in our society might be more prevalent than you think! Combining different study findings, the percentage of flat foot seen in children aged 2-6 is 21%-57% and up to 14% in adult populations.(1) The feet and ankle are important to support our daily activities. What could happen if you are putting extra stress into your lower limb joints every step when we walk or do exercise?

As its name suggests, flat foot is a collapsed foot arch when our foot touches the ground (stance phase) in gait. We can imagine the middle rock taken out from an arch bridge and it collapses. In most flat foot sufferers, one of our bone’s called the talus in our mid-foot is found to be shifted forward. This becomes mobile and unlocks the foot arch.(2) Studies have shown that people suffering from flat feet can expect to see excessive foot pronation (rolling in), knee rolling inwards, internal rotation of hip and compensatory back problems.(3) That is one reason why some people get pain in their heel, get tired quicker on their feet when shopping or walking. Another study found other comorbidities such as male gender, BMI, office worker, bunion, calluses and arthritis in flat foot sufferers.(4)

It is very easy to identify a flat foot! If you can fit one to one and a half fingers underneath your foot arch, you are not a flat foot sufferer! If you could not fit two fingers in your foot arch, it is a good idea to see a podiatrist, as well as a musculoskeletal professional to check out your potential lower limb and back compensatory change!

If you or your love ones failed the test, speak to our chiropractors in Sprouting Health and see how we can help manage your issues!