What is adult acquired flatfoot?

What is adult acquired flatfoot?

Adult acquired flatfoot is a very common condition that affects the feet and ankles of adult males and females. In people with adult acquired flatfoot, the arch of the foot falls or collapses. It can be a painful, sometimes debilitating condition. However, a painful flatfoot can usually be helped with braces or orthotics and other non-surgical treatments.

Adult acquired flatfoot is different than flatfoot in children. Children will usually outgrow flatfoot on their own, often without treatment. In adults, flat feet usually remain permanently flat. Treatment usually addresses the symptoms rather than a cure.

In adults the condition is called "acquired" flatfoot because it affects feet that at one point in time had a normal longitudinal arch. The deformity may worsen over time as one ages.