Does flat feet make you slower?

Again, it may not slow you down, but it can lead to strained arches–an injury commonly known as Plantar Fasciitis–and also to shin splints. However, as long as you have no symptoms of injury, you should not worry too much about it.

Are there any advantages to having flat feet?

In a 1989 study of more than 300 Army infantry trainees at Fort Benning Ga., those with flat feet had far fewer training injuries than recruits with normal or high insteps. In fact, trainees with high arches suffered twice as many injuries, including sprains and stress fractures, as their flat-footed comrades.

Who is more likely to have flat feet?

The condition is more common in women over the age of 40, however. Pregnant women are also at a higher risk of developing adult acquired flatfeet. Adults with medical conditions including uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and obesity are also at a higher risk.

Does having flat feet matter?

Flat feet tend to cause another condition called overpronation, which is when the ankles roll inward while you’re walking. This can lead to foot and ankle pain. Because your feet are the basis of support for your entire body, having flat feet and overpronation can cause problems with your spinal alignment.

What does it mean if you have flat feet?

If you have flat feet, also known as pes planus, you will have a very low arch or no arch at all, meaning one or both of your feet press flat on the ground. Flat feet can be congenital (you’re born with it) or can develop over time. Most who suffer from flat feet have no symptoms and normal foot function.

How does leg length inequality cause flat feet?

Leg length inequality can cause flat-footedness by forcing the longer limb to compensate by flattening the arch. Pregnancy can cause temporary or permanent flat-footedness due to the increased production of elastin, a protein that increases the elasticity of skin and connective tissues. 9 

Will my child’s flat feet ever right themselves?

In some children, flat-footedness will not right itself. While there may be no outward explanation for this, obesity can often contribute by placing additional stress on a still-developing foot. Flat feet in children may only become apparent between adolescence and the early teen years when abnormalities in gait and pronation become more apparent.

What is adult acquired flat foot?

Adult acquired flat foot is not a congenital flat foot but acquired over time. This is due to damage to the posterior tibial tendon which is the main tendon supporting the arch of the foot. With a tear in the tendon over many years of abnormal strain, the arch will begin to collapse as the posterior tibial tendon weakens and unravels.