Our feet are extremely complex structures, made to withstand immense pressure and adjust to moving across different types of surfaces. If our feet are healthy and normal, all of our joints, ligaments, tendons and bones work perfectly together so we can enjoy an active lifestyle and typical day-to-day activities. But for those with a foot deformity, such as flat feet or high arches, daily activities like walking and moving can be daunting. These conditions can lead to other issues as well, such as problems with a person's back, hip and knees.
Penn orthopaedic specialists use the latest non-surgical and surgical techniques to treat flat feet, high arches and other foot issues. Our treatment plans vary depending upon the severity of the foot deformity, but they may include a combination of conservative and surgical treatments.
Meet the team of experts who specialize in flat foot and high arches treatment
Flat Foot Symptoms
Flat feet, or fallen arches, is a condition characterized by a lack of arch at the bottom of the foot. Flat foot occurs when tendons that hold the joints of the foot together are loose, flattening the area where you would normally have an arch. People with flat feet experience the soles of their feet completely touching the floor when they stand and walk.
Being flat footed is common in infants and toddlers. As a baby grows over time, the tendons in the feet strengthen, helping to form a normal arch in the foot. But in some children, an arch never develops properly, which causes various problems.
In adults, flat feet may develop later as a result of an injury or wear and tear due to aging.
Flat foot pain can worsen with prolonged standing or activity. Symptoms include:
- Foot pain (most prevalent in the heel and arch area)
- Leg pain
- Back pain
- Swelling of the feet and ankles
Flat Foot Treatment Options
At Penn Orthopaedics, we diagnose and treat flat feet in both children and adults. Whenever possible, we provide conservative therapies to treat flat feet that can offer relief when the condition becomes painful.
Non-surgical treatment for flat feet includes:
- Modifying your daily activity
- Ankle braces
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Custom orthotics (shoe inserts)
- Physical therapy
If flat foot is causing significant pain and conservative methods are not improving the condition, we may recommend surgery.
Flat Foot Reconstruction Surgery
Flat foot surgery typically involves the repair of loose tendons or realigning the bones in the foot.
Depending on the severity of your condition, we may perform a combination of the following surgeries to treat flat feet:
- Arthrodesis: Arthrodesis is another name for joint fusion surgery. By eliminating the space between the bones that would allow painful movement, fusing the bones in the foot together relieves the pain. To ensure the bones heal properly together, we also may do bone grafting, a surgical procedure that uses transplanted bone to repair damaged bones.
- Foot bone reconstruction surgery that involves bone grafting and tendon transfer to create a new arch.
- Dorsal opening wedge osteotomy: A bone wedge or bone graft is placed at the top of the medial cuneiform bone located in the middle of the foot.
In some cases, portions of these procedures may be done using minimally invasive surgery (MIS). A small incision near the arch allows the surgeon to access the bones in order to make corrections. Candidates for MIS are determined on a case by case basis, and can include patients who are diabetic or have a significant history of keloids.
Flat Foot Surgery Recovery
Recovery time for flat feet surgery can take up to a year depending on the severity of your condition. For the first couple weeks, the foot will be in a cast and should be kept elevated. You will then wear a removable boot and should not put any weight on the foot for six to eight weeks.
During a follow-up appointment around 12 weeks post-surgery, your doctor will determine when you will be able to transition to normal shoes with the support of a brace. Physical therapy combined with rest will help facilitate healing.
High Arches Symptoms
High arches is a condition characterized by unusually or excessively high arches of the feet. High arches are usually inherited. They do not always cause symptoms, but they can cause discomfort when walking, running or standing for prolonged periods of time. High arches can also accompany neurological conditions, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT).
Individuals with high arches distribute their weight on their heels and balls of their feet. This puts a great deal of stress on the toes and ankles. A high arched foot also lacks flexibility, leading to an increased chance of ankle sprains or fractures. They can sometimes cause other problems, such as pain in the knees, hips and lower back, as well.
High Arches Treatment Options
At Penn Orthopaedics, we’ve found that non-surgical therapies often provide relief for pain from high arches.
Some of the high arches treatments we may recommend include:
- Modifying your daily activities
- Wearing ankle braces
- Taking anti-inflammatory medications
- Getting and wearing custom orthotics (shoe inserts)
- Doing physical therapy
If conservative therapies do not relieve pain, surgery may be considered to treat high arches.
Reconstructive Foot Surgery for High Arches
Our orthopaedic surgeons are highly experienced in reconstruction surgery to correct high arches. Depending on the severity of your condition, there may be multiple procedures involved.
Penn orthopaedic surgeons may perform a combination of the following surgeries to treat high arches:
- Reconstruction surgery: Reconstruction surgery for high arches may consist of several different types of techniques, including osteotomy (cutting the bone to re-position the heel bone and align the foot), tendon repair and plantar fascia release (partially cutting the tendon that connects the heel and ball of the foot to release tightness and tension, helping to correct the high arch).
- Arthrodesis: Arthrodesis is a type of surgery that fuses the bones in the foot together relieve the pain. Fusing the bones eliminates any movement in the space between bones that may be causing pain. To ensure the bones heal properly together, we may perform arthrodesis in conjunction with bone grafting, a surgical procedure that uses transplanted bone to repair damaged bones.
In some cases, portions of these procedures may be done using minimally invasive surgery (MIS). A small incision near the arch allows the surgeon to access the bones in order to make corrections. Candidates for MIS are determined on a case by case basis, and can include patients who are diabetic or have a significant history of keloids.
High Arches Foot Surgery Recovery
Recovery time for high arch surgery can take up to a year depending on the severity of the condition. For the first six weeks, you will wear a cast and should keep the foot elevated. Then, for the next six weeks you will wear a removable boot and should not put any weight on the foot.
Around 12 weeks post-surgery, your surgeon will determine whether or not you can transition to normal shoes with the support of a brace. Physical therapy combined with rest will help facilitate healing.