Learn About Flat Feet
Flat feet (pes planus) refer to a difference in foot shape in which the foot does not have a normal arch when standing.
Pes planovalgus; Fallen arches; Pronation of feet; Pes planus
Flat feet are a common condition. The condition is normal in infants and toddlers.
Flat feet occur because the tissues holding the joints in the foot together (called tendons or ligaments) are loose.
The foot tissues tighten and form an arch as children grow older. This will take place by the time the child is 2 or 3 years old. Most people have normal arches by the time they are adults. However, the arch may never form in some people.
Some hereditary conditions cause loose tendons and ligaments.
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
- Marfan Syndrome
People born with these conditions may have flat feet.
Aging, injuries, or illness may harm the tendons and cause flat feet to develop in a person who has already formed arches. This type of flat foot may occur only on one side.
Rarely, painful flat feet in children may be caused by a condition in which two or more of the bones in the foot grow or fuse together. This condition is called tarsal coalition.
Most people with flat feet do not have pain or other problems.
Children don't often have foot pain, ankle pain, or lower leg pain. They should be evaluated by a health care provider if this occurs.
Symptoms in adults may include tired or achy feet after long periods of standing or playing sports. You also may have pain on the outside of your ankle.
If you have had a flat foot for a long time, you may develop changes in the appearance and flexibility of your toes also. You can have pain in the deformed toes.
Flat feet in a child do not need treatment if they are not causing pain or walking problems.
- Your child's feet will grow and develop the same, whether special shoes, shoe inserts, heel cups, or wedges are used.
- Your child may walk barefoot, run or jump, or do any other activity without making the flat feet worse.
In older children and adults, flexible flat feet that do not cause pain or walking problems do not need further treatment.
If you have pain due to flexible flat feet, the following may help:
- An arch-support (orthotic) that you put in your shoe. You can buy this at the store or have it custom-made.
- Special shoes.
- Calf muscle stretches.
Rigid or painful flat feet need to be checked by a provider. The treatment depends on the cause of the flat feet.
For tarsal coalition, treatment starts with rest and possibly a cast. Surgery may be needed if pain does not improve.
In more severe cases, surgery may be needed to:
- Clean or repair the tendon
- Transfer a tendon to restore the arch
- Fuse joints in the foot into a corrected position
Flat feet in older adults can be treated with pain relievers, orthotics, and sometimes surgery.
Proliance Surgeons
Philip Yearian, DPM, is a board-certified surgeon specializing in the lower extremity treatment of the foot and ankle. He believes that staying on the forefront of treatment involves educating his patients, which leads to better outcomes.While competing as a Division I Track and Field athlete in the 3000 meters Steeplechase and Cross Country at the University of Portland, his own injuries introduced him to some of the very treatments he uses today to get patients back on their way to a non-painful walk or ultra-marathon.His training involved specializing in both bone and plastic reconstructive surgery. After over twenty years in practice in Gig Harbor and Tacoma, Dr. Yearian has improved some of these very techniques, which now allow some patients to shorten their recovery and return to play or work sooner.Dr. Yearian coaches basketball at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School. He also enjoys running marathons, skiing, traveling and teaching for the Franciscan Foot and Ankle Reconstructive Residency program. Dr. Yearian is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Flat Feet. His top areas of expertise are Bunions, Flat Feet, Synovitis, and Tendinitis.
Duke Ambulatory Surgery Center
The desire to explore, research, and understand things in great detail has been the driving force throughout my career. This passion drew me to foot and ankle. I am focused on taking great care of patients, teaching and mentoring medical students, residents, and fellows, and collaborating on the continuous development of foot and ankle surgery research. Dr. De Cesar Netto is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Flat Feet. His top areas of expertise are Flat Feet, Bunions, High Arch, Osteotomy, and Tenotomy.
Premier Podiatry
Velimir Petkov is a Podiatric Medicine provider in Clifton, New Jersey. Dr. Petkov is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Flat Feet. His top areas of expertise are Flat Feet, Hammer Toe, Athlete's Foot, and Fungal Nail Infection. Dr. Petkov is currently accepting new patients.
Most cases of flat feet are painless and do not cause any problems. They will not need treatment.
Some causes of painful flat feet can be treated without surgery. If other treatments do not work, surgery may be needed to relieve pain in some cases. Some conditions such as tarsal coalition may need surgery to correct the deformity so the foot stays flexible.
Surgery often improves pain and foot function for people who need it.
Possible problems after surgery include:
- Failure of the fused bones to heal
- Foot deformity that does not go away
- Infection
- Loss of ankle movement
- Pain that does not go away
- Problems with shoe fit
Contact your provider if you experience persistent pain in your feet or your child complains of foot pain or lower leg pain.
Most cases are not preventable. However, wearing well-supported shoes can be helpful.
Background: Adult acquired flatfoot deformity (AAFD) is a deformity of the foot which leads to pain and an altered gait pattern. There are several different surgical interventions available for treatment of AAFD. One of the most common treatments for mobile AAFD is medial displacement calcaneal osteotomy (MDCO) with or without adjuvant soft tissue procedures. However, the medial displacement of the calcaneus ...
Summary: This study will examine the symptoms, course of disease and treatment of non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections, as well as the genetics involved in these infections. Patients with NTM have recurrent lung infections and sometimes infections of the skin and other organs as well. They may also have curvature of the spine, barrel chest, and heart valve weakness. The study will compare the fea...
Published Date: June 04, 2025
Published By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Goodbody CM, Winell JJ, Davidson RS. The foot and toes. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 715.
Grear BJ. Disorders of tendons and fascia and adolescent and adult pes planus. In: Azar FM, Beaty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 83.
Myerson MS, Kadakia AR. Correction of flatfoot deformity in the adult. In: Myerson MS, Kadakia AR, eds. Reconstructive Foot and Ankle Surgery: Management of Complications. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 14.