Flatfoot Care at UVM Health
Flatfoot, also called a collapsed arch, occurs when your arch is so low that the entire sole of your foot touches the floor when you walk. In some cases, a lower-than-usual arch causes no symptoms and doesn’t require treatment. But sometimes, flatfoot can cause pain or instability that interferes with your everyday movements.
At University of Vermont Health, our team of experts offers a full range of treatments for collapsed arches. Our collaborative approach includes pediatric orthopedic surgeons, podiatrists, specially trained advanced practice providers and fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeons.
Why Choose UVM Health?
As one of the leading orthopedic programs in the region, we offer:
- Care for all ages: Flat feet can affect anyone, including children and adolescents. Our foot and ankle specialists partner with experts in pediatric orthopedics to offer comprehensive treatment for all ages.
- Patient-centered approach: We take time to listen to your needs and preferences. Your personalized care plan prioritizes nonsurgical treatment — we only recommend surgery when it’s the most effective option.
- Research emphasis: As part of a health system anchored by an academic medical center, our physicians are active researchers, many of whom train the next generation of experts. We are at the forefront of research into foot and ankle care.
Symptoms of Flatfoot
Sometimes, the bones in the back portion of the foot don’t separate as they should before a baby is born. You may not notice any signs of flatfoot at first, but after a child’s first growth spurt, these joined bones may pull other tissues in the foot backward, resulting in a collapsed arch. In adults, a collapsed arch may also develop because of arthritis, a nerve injury or diabetes-related foot complications.
In both adolescents and adults, symptoms of flatfoot may include:
- Instability
- Pain
- Sensations of a sprain that doesn’t seem to heal
- Trouble standing on tiptoe
Diagnosing Flatfoot
When diagnosing flatfoot, your specialist will examine your foot, ankle and heel. Then they’ll ask about your symptoms, including when they started, how they’ve progressed and what relieves them.
They may also use tests such as:
Flatfoot Treatment
The goal of flatfoot treatment is to reduce pain and increase your function. Most people benefit from nonsurgical treatment for flat feet. Our team offers the full range of treatment options, only recommending surgery when it’s the most effective choice. Flatfoot treatment may include:
Wearing more supportive shoes or using shoe inserts may relieve painful symptoms of a collapsed arch. You may benefit from commercial or custom orthotics, devices that correct foot alignment and relieve pressure on your foot.
You may wear a soft or rigid brace or cast to improve stability and reduce pain.
If flatfoot is the result of a chronic condition such as arthritis, you may benefit from steroid injections. Your provider delivers steroid medicine directly to the affected joint, reducing inflammation and pain.
In some cases, you may need surgery to reconstruct your arch or realign your foot. Our surgeons use advanced techniques, including osteotomies and tendon transfers, to correct alignment and improve your overall function.
Locations Near You
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1311 Barre Montpelier Road
Suite 400
Berlin, VT 05602
192 Tilley Drive
South Burlington, VT 05403-4440
116 Porter Drive
Middlebury, VT 05753-8501
76 McNeil Road
Suite 2
Waterbury Center, VT 05677-7162