SSB Interview Do you have it in you?
Flat Feet also known as Flat Foot or pes planus or fallen arches is a term used to describe the condition of the foot in which the arch of the foot collapses, the sole of the foot is complete or almost completely in contact with the ground surface. It is commonly painless condition and it occurs when arches don’t develop during childhood or it may be a result of an injury or aging effect. It can create a problem in your ankles and knees as due to Flat Foot the alignment of your legs is not proper.
Symptoms
The common symptoms of the Flat foot are Swelling of the midfoot on standing, Pain in the inner side of the ankle, an arch of the foot, calf, knee, hip, and back.
Flat Foot Test
To test whether you have the normal foot or not then try to stand on your toes if you are able to stand without any pain or complication then you probably don’t have a flat foot. Another way of testing flat foot is by using a coloured powder and spray it on a plane surface and make your feet wet and then place it on the coloured powder if the powder is removed in a curved manner then you don’t have flat foot but if the entire powder is removed it could be that you have flat foot.
Causes
Flat Foot is a result of the tissues holding the joints in the foot together (called tendons) are loose. It is mainly caused due to underdeveloped arches during childhood or due to an injury or aging effect of the body in older ages. Some other factors include Fat in the foot.
As a child grows older the tissues tighten and form an arc and the problem of flat foot disappear however there are some persons in which these tissues do not grow properly.
Effects
In Defence forces high standard of physical fitness is required and due to flat foot, a person would not be able to run as quickly as a normal footed person would. Other complications of the flat foot are Loss of ankle movement, Infection, and Pain that does not go away.
Treatment
There are few simple exercises which can help in treating fallen arches these exercise includes Point at things with your toes, Get on your toes, Walk-in the sand. Doctors also recommend some Shoe Insoles for treatment. However, in some severe cases, surgery may be needed.
