Flat Feet Specialist

South Sound Foot & Ankle

Podiatric Medicine and Surgery & Diabetic Wound Care Specialist located in Olympia, WA

Flat feet can range from hardly noticeable to especially problematic depending on the person. If your flat feet are causing you problems, you can depend on podiatrist Mark Hopkins, DPM, for expert care. At South Sound Foot & Ankle in Olympia, Washington, Dr. Hopkins provides individualized treatments such as custom orthotics and medications. If you’d like to learn more about flat feet and the available treatments, schedule your consultation at South Sound Foot & Ankle by calling or clicking today.

360-456-3171

Flat Feet Q&A

What are flat feet?

Normal, fully developed foot arches have an upward curve in the middle of the foot. Normal arches stabilize and support your tendons and ligaments in your lower leg and foot.

With fallen arches and flat feet, over time the arch has collapsed in either one foot or both feet or the arch hasn’t developed properly.

What causes flat feet?

Flat feet can be present from birth, but they can also develop due to aging, overuse, or following a ligament tear, fracture, or some other type of injury.

An arch can also collapse as a complication of certain medical conditions like diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.

What are the signs of flat feet?

To help you figure out if you have flat feet, there’s a simple test you can do at home in addition to visiting Dr. Hopkins at South Sound Foot & Ankle.

Find a concrete surface and some water. Wet your feet and stand on the surface as you normally would. Step away and assess your imprints. If you have normal arches, the inside curve of your foot should be missing from the imprint, but with flat feet, you should notice almost the entire imprint of the base of your foot.

What are the complications of flat feet?

Flat feet can cause redness, pain, and swelling along the inner side of your foot. You might also have trouble walking or standing for long periods of time.

Bony bumps in the skin or ulcers can develop, and in some cases, flat feet can throw other joints out of alignment.

How are flat feet treated?

To treat your flat feet, Dr. Hopkins assesses the cause and severity and plans effective treatments geared at relieving pain, supporting your arches, improving your mobility, and preventing further complications.

Some of the treatments for flat feet might include:

Stretching exercises and physical therapy to relieve muscle tension
Custom shoes, inserts, a brace, or other orthotics to support your arch
Walking boots to help your tendon heal
Medications for diminishing inflammation and pain
Losing weight if excess weight is exacerbating your condition

To improve your arch in more severe cases, Dr. Hopkins might suggest flat foot reconstruction or surgery to repair the tendon or to fuse your foot joints into the correct position.

Dr. Hopkins offers quality surgical care and comprehensive assessments, exams, treatment plans, custom shoes and orthotics, and surgical intervention when needed.

Take control of your podiatric health and resolve your flat foot problem with exceptional care. Call South Sound Foot & Ankle or book online today.