The etiology of flatfoot has several factors implicated. Also, older individuals and high BMI are found to have a significant influence on having flat feet.Įtiology/Causes Pita-Fernandez et al reported a prevalence of 26.62% in random sample. There are about 20-30% of children with some form of flat feet. Pes planus is more prevalent in children and females are more predisposed to this condition than their male counterparts in adulthood. Previous studies indicate the prevalence of flatfoot between < 1% and 28% at certain age groups.
When the arch of the foot is intact on heel elevation and non-bearing but disappears on full standing on the foot, it is termed flexible flat foot while rigid flat foot is when the arch is not present in both heel elevation and weight bearing. It is of two forms flexible flat foot and rigid flat foot. All at birth has flat feet and noticeable foot arch are seen at around the age of 3years. The deformity is usually asymptomatic and resolves spontaneously in the first decade of life, or occasionally progresses into a painful rigid form which causes significant disability. In lay terms, it is a fallen arch of the foot that caused the whole foot to make contact with the surface the individual is standing on. Pes planus also known as flat foot is the loss of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot, heel valgus deformity, and medial talar prominence.