Beyond Arch and Heel Pain: 6 Potential Complications of Flat Feet

Having flat feet means what it sounds like: Instead of having an arch, one or both of your feet are completely flat, meaning the soles touch the ground when you stand.

Everyone is born with flat feet, but most people develop arches in childhood. For some people, the arches never develop; in others, the arches collapse later, leaving flat feet.

Flat feet can result from genetic factors, injury, wear-and-tear, or other medical conditions. About one-third of the population has flat feet. 

You might think flat feet primarily cause arch and heel pain, and they can. But because your feet are the foundation of your body, the condition can lead to other problems.

Based on our experience treating patients at Austin Foot & Ankle Institute, here we spotlight six potential complications of flat feet. 

1. Knee pain

An absence of arches causes alignment issues in the rest of your body. That starts with rotational changes affecting your ankles and works up to your knees, resulting in patellofemoral pain syndrome, or pain behind your kneecap where it meets your thigh bone.

This knee pain can be nagging at first, but it can gradually worsen over time.

2. Plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of your plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot. Flat feet can strain and overstretch this tissue, leading to sharp heel pain often felt in the morning or after standing for a long time.

3. Achilles tendonitis

Flat feet also lead to increased (and abnormal) motion in the middle of your foot. That makes your Achilles tendon (in the back of your heel) work harder to keep up, in turn leading to strain and inflammation of the tendon. 

4. Bunions and hammertoes

Bunions are bony bumps at the base of your big toe, and hammertoes refer to abnormal bending of your toe joints. Flat feet alter the way pressure is distributed across your feet, which can lead to both conditions. Both are painful and may require surgery to correct.

5. Shin splints

Flat feet cause your feet to pronate (roll inward), putting extra stress on your lower leg. That stress on your tibia, or shin bone, leads to shin splints, a dull ache along your shin. That often occurs when you increase your training (running) levels.

6. Reduced performance

Because flat feet can affect your balance, stability, and shock absorption while you’re active, they can also bring down the level of your athletic performance and increase your risk of injuries, such as stress fractures and sprains.

Flat feet may not seem like a serious issue on their own, but the long-term consequences can be significant. To learn more about your treatment options, call the Austin Foot & Ankle Institute office in Austin or Bee Cave, Texas, or request your appointment online today.