Flat feet, do you have them, or do you have feet that flatten? There are a few ways to tell the difference. I will discuss a couple of them. When seated (non weight bearing), put one leg across the other with the outside of your ankle on top of your knee and keep the foot relaxed. Can you see the curve of your arch on the foot that is crossed over the knee? If so, then I say that foot is not flat because you can see the curve. If you cannot not see the curve in your arch then your arch may be low or the foot may be flat. While standing (weight bearing), look at your wet footprint on the floor/pavement.
You should see your toes, the balls of your foot, the heel, and a line that is also wet that connects the heel to the balls of your foot. If the connecting line between the heel and ball of the foot is as wide as the front of the foot then your foot either flattens or is flat. The lower the arch, the wider the line between the heel and ball of the foot. The higher the arch, the thinner the line between the heel and ball of foot will be. Flat or flatten, neither conditions have to be painful. None of these techniques are a definitive diagnostic tool for flat feet.
If you have foot pain and suspect that you may have flat feet or feet that flatten, you should visit a podiatrist or go to a shoe store that specializes in foot function and that performs gait analysis. Either way, flat or flattened feet don’t have to be painful but they can be. There are several things that can be done to care for flat feet or feet that flatten. Through a store that specializes is proper foot function and gait analysis, getting a proper fitting shoe alone or one that is modified can help. Over the counter inserts combined with the shoe may also help. Wearing custom arch supports inside the shoes will help to give you foot the support where you specifically need it. Ask your doctor or podiatrist, pedorthist and or store staff about the benefits of using these devices for flat feet or feet that flatten.
Lonnell Carter, C. Ped
Focus on orthotics and diabetic footwear
Trained RMA (Registered Medical Assistant) and PMAC (Podiatric Medical Assistant Certified)
Key note speaker for several years at Atlanta American Diabetes Association.
Member, Pedorthic Footwear Association
Khary Holbert, C.Ped
Focus on orthotics and diabetic footwear
Kennesaw State University – Pedorthist Certification
Medical training at Army Medical Corps, San Antonio, Texas Certified Medical Assistant
Brandon Brooks, DPM, MPH
Focus on surgery, diabetic foot care, wound care
Undergraduate, Saint Leo University
The Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine
Foot and ankle surgery residency at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta, GA
Fellowship training and Master of Public Health degree completed at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH
Member, American Podiatric Medical Association
Member, American Public Health Association
Muhammad Ansari, DPM
Focus on sports medicine, foot and ankle surgery, diabetic foot care, limb salvage
Emphasis on mobility and health and wellness
Undergraduate, Howard University
New York College of Podiatric Medicine
Residency at the NYCPM/Metropolitan in Harlem and the South Bronx.NY
Member, American Podiatric Medical Association
Dr. Harry Cotler
Focus Pediatrics, Geriatrics & Sports Medicine
Undergraduate at Fairleigh Dickenson Univerisity
New York College of Podiatric Medicine
Surgical residency Community General Hospital, New York Divisions
Board certified by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine
Member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons Orthopedics & Medicine
Focus Sports Medicine, Minimally-Invasive Bunion Correction, Arthroscopy, Cartilage Transplantation, Non-Surgical Techniques, and General Foot Care
Undergraduate at Temple University
Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia.
Surgical residency Jersey Shore University Medical Center
Board certified by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine and Board Qualified in Foot and Reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle Surgery
Member of the American Podiatric Medical Association and the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
Dr. Jessica Fink
Focus Deformity Correction utilizing both internal and external fixation, Minimally Invasive Surgery, and Orthoplastics
Undergraduate at Keuka College
New York College of Podiatric Medicine in New York City
Surgical residency Baltimore VA Medical Center
Board certified the American Podiatric Medical Association and Board Qualified in Foot and Ankle Surgery by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery
Member of the American Podiatric Medical Association, American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons, American College of Foot and Ankle Orthopedics and Medicine, American Society of Podiatric Surgeons, and American Association for Women Podiatrists
Dr. Harold Cook
Focus orthopedics, rehabilitation, rheumatology, infectious disease, trauma, pathology and microbiology
Undergraduate at Ohio State University
Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine
Surgical residency Bellevue Hospital Center, the flagship hospital of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation
Board certified by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine and Board Qualified in Foot and Reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle Surgery
Dolly Stelzer, DPM
Focus on sports medicine
Undergraduate, University of Florida
Graduate, New York College of Podiatric Medicine
Residency in Podiatric Medicine and foot and ankle surgery at Denver DVA
Board Certified, American Board of Podiatric Medicine
Board Qualified, American Board of Foot Ankle Surgery
Robyn Adams
Focus on orthotics and diabetic footwear
Towson University BS – Kinesiology/ Education
Kennesaw State University – Pedorthics
Member, Pedorthic Footcare Association
Dr. Torian
Natalie Mccoy, C.Ped
Focus on diabetic shoe fitting
Pedorthist Certification, Kennesaw State University
Diabetic Shoe Fitter Certification, The American Board for Certification in orthotics, prosthetics and pedorthist.
Démon Thompson, C.Ped
Focus on orthotics and ankle foot orthoses
Medical training at Army Medical Corps, San Antonio, Texas
International School of Pedorthics
Member, American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management
Member, Pedorthic Foot care Association
Member. The American Diabetes Association
James M. Cawthorne, DPM
Focus on diabetic foot care and foot surgery
Undergraduate, Westminster College
Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine
Residency in foot surgery at McNamara Hospital
Member, South Carolina Podiatric Medical Association
Member, American Podiatric Medical Association.
Walter H. Singleton, DPM
Focus on pharmacology
Undergraduate, Medical University of South Carolina and The Citadel
Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine.
Residency, Veterans’ Administration Medical Center in Huntington, WV
Member, South Carolina Podiatric Medical Association