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PESPLANUS. Flat feet of themselves are not necessarily a problem, however excessive pronation (the feet become misaligned and combined with poor posture roll inwards to gain ground contact, the arches become flattened) can cause the foot's arches to elongate and collapse. In these cases of flat feet, pain and discomfort will be present in the arch and heel, treatment is required for this problem to be managed successfully. Excessive pronation is associated with many conditions including ankle, knee or low back pain. The causes of flat feet are many but in the older age group, decreased exercise and increased weight add to the mechanical disturbances of the foot. The symptoms can range from tired, aching to sharp pains in the foot with general leg fatigue and body aches. Flat feet can also produce conditions known as heel spurs and/or plantar fasciitis. The best and first line of defense for a flat foot condition is a good supportive shoe but usually some type of arch support is required. Adhesive pads or arch supports can help to let the arch settle down, however in the long term orthotic insoles are the most effective means of controlling flat feet.
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