What are the Problems Associated with Flat Feet?



If you’re an athlete who engages in regular running competitions and exercises, you need to be well informed about common injuries associated with running. You also need to know how to prevent them from occurring. Let’s have a look at some of the injuries and their remedies.

Runners Knee
This comes with tender pain behind and around your knee cap. It’s very common among many runners. To prevent this, you need to run on soft surfaces. You can also treat the injury by using knee braces. You can also engage in knee tapping or use some anti-inflammatory drug to control the pains.

Actually, flat feet can occur at any point in life. Some babies are born with it. The condition may disappear as the babies grow up. However, some other babies continue with the condition all through their lives. One can also develop flat feet during early childhood or early adulthood. It’s possible to have flat feet and still have good muscle tone without pain. If you’re obese, you may also develop the condition. It can prevent you from walking with ease.

Achilles Tendinitis
This refers to the swelling of the Achilles tendon, the tissues that link the lower leg muscles with the heel. The injury occurs as a result using improper shoes. If you have flat feet, you may also experience it. To avoid the injury, you need to be wearing comfortable shoes. You should also stretch your calf muscles after a workout.

Plantar Fasciitis
This injury is usually caused as a result of tearing or inflammation of the planter fascia; the tissue positioned at the lower part of the foot. You may have the injury if you wear uncomfortable shoes for a long time. You may also have it when you pound excessively on roads. To avoid the injury, you need to be wearing footwear with extra cushion. You can also roll a tennis ball over your heel and equally rest well to deal with the pain.

Shin Splints
This occurs as a stabbing sensation within your shin. It often occurs when the tendons and muscles covering your shin bone become highly inflamed. To deal with the pain, you can apply ice on your shin for some minutes. To prevent the injury from occurring, you need to use shock-absorbing insoles which will support your arch. You should also use comfortable running shoes to avoid having the injury.

Diseases
Certain kinds of diseases can lead to flat feet especially when they are not treated in time. Among them include diabetes, cancer and arthritis.

Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS)
Iliotibial band refers to the thick tendon that stretches from your pelvic bone down to the tibia. You have ITBS when there’s an inflammation on the tissue. The injury mainly occurs as a result of weak hips, increased mileage and other factors. To ease the pain, you need to stretch your muscles from time to time. You also need to take time out to rest.

Body Conditions
If you’re a lady and you’re pregnant, you may develop flat feet as a result of the hormonal changes going on in your body. If you’re growing old as a person, you have chances of developing flat feet especially when you keep gaining extra weight.

Patellar Tendinitis
This is also known as “jumper’s knee”. It occurs when there are tears in the patellar tendon; the tissue that connects the shinbone with the kneecap. This can be as a result of excessive running exercises. To deal with the pain, you need to strengthen your quads and hamstrings at home or at the gym complex. You can also place ice on your knee to calm the pain.

Ankle Sprain
This occurs when your ankle rolls outward or inwards and stretches the ligament. You can prevent this by engaging in balanced exercises. You also need to rest in order to calm the pain. You can also wear ankle brace to prevent the injury.

Ankle Sprain
This occurs when your muscle is overstretched leaving the tendons and fibers torn. You may encounter this when you fail to warm up or when you overuse your muscles. To prevent the injury, you need to warm up and chill down regularly. You can also ice the muscle to calm the pain.



In all, these injuries outlined above are very common among runners. You can always prevent and treat them with the tips discussed. However, you still need to meet your podiatrist or doctor if you’re unable to handle any of the injuries.