Symptoms and Complications of Flat Feet (Over-Pronation)

Flat feet are identified by a foot that has little or no perceptible arch when pressure is applied. This condition can cause pain especially if the sufferer stands or walks a lot throughout the day. Sometimes, though, there is no pain. Even in the absence of pain, over-pronation causes many symptoms and complications that cannot be overlooked. The following are some of the most common symptoms and complications associated with flat feet:

• Shoe Wear - Shoes are crafted with a natural arch. A person with flat feet may notice abnormal shoe wear especially on the inside wall of the heel. The inside sole of the shoe will also show wear.
• Bunions - Over-pronation causes more stress to be placed on the upper inside of the foot. This can lead to bunions that progressively get worse.
• Calluses - Calluses on the ball of the foot are very common in flat footed people.
• Impingement Syndrome - As the flat foot progresses, the hell will angle out causing ligaments and tendons to become pinched. The heel bones will collapse against the ankle bones. Eventually, the joints will become dislocated.
• Pain - Most of the pain associated with flat feet is found in other parts of the body. Knee, hip and backpain are very common.
• Arthritis - Arthritis of the foot, ankle and toe joints is very common in people with flat feet.
• Swelling - Swollen feet and ankles is also very common.

If you have flat feet, you need proper arch support. Most shoes offer arch support, but more is needed. This is especially true if you wear flat-heeled casual shoes. To get added support, you can simply insert arch support insoles into your shoes. Birkenstock casual blue footbed insoles are a great addition to any shoe that needs a little bit of support. You should also pay special attention to shoe selection. Always choose support over style.

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