Flat Foot Symptoms & Diagnosis

Symptoms

If you experience any of these symptoms do not assume it is due to flat feet. These symptoms can be due to many types of foot problems including ill-fitting shoes. If you suffer from any one of them, see your physician or podiatrist.

• Pain
• Calluses or skin redness
• A stiff foot
• Weakness or numbness of the foot
• Rapid wearing out of shoes
• Worn shoes that lean towards each other
• Other evidence, such as difficulty running, that indicates the foot is having trouble doing its job

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and will perform a physical exam. If the flat foot is fixed and symptomatic, you will be referred to an orthopedic surgeon for possible surgical correction.

If either of these tests are positive, the flat foot is flexible and unlikely to need treatment:

• The arch appears when standing on tiptoe
• The ankle can be flexed at least 15° up from perpendicular to the lower leg