What are flat feet?
Flat foot is a condition that causes the natural arch along the inside of your foot to lower. You have flat feet if the arches of your feet lie flat against the ground when you stand. Flat feet are normal in babies as the arch of the foot develops during childhood. By adulthood, most people have fully formed arches along the inside of their feet.
Flat feet result from a misalignment in the ankle bone and heel bone. When you have flat feet, your ankle bone falls forward, forcing the natural arch of your foot to flatten.
How do flat feet affect the rest of my body?
Flat foot is normally a painless condition, but it throws your entire body out of alignment. It affects your ability to run, walk, and exercise. Misaligned feet put extra strain and pressure on many joints in your body, from your feet and ankles all the way up to your knees, hips, and spine.
This misalignment may lead to a host of problems, such as:
- Bunions
- Heel pain
- Hammertoe
- Knee pain
- Back pain
- Hip pain
- Shin splints
Fortunately, a podiatrist has specialized training in treating flat or misaligned feet with HyProCure®, a minimally invasive surgical procedure that typically takes only 20 minutes.
What should I expect from a HyProCure procedure?
First, a podiatrist performs a thorough physical exam to make sure HyProCure is the best treatment for you.
A podiatrist performs HyProCure procedures on an outpatient basis, meaning that you don’t have to check into a hospital and you’re typically under twilight sleep or local sedation.
During the procedure, he positions a HyProCure metal rod into the space between your bones to realign and stabilize your foot. There’s no drilling or screwing involved, and the rod doesn’t penetrate your bone at any point in the procedure.
Once inserted, the HyProCure rod helps to restore normal alignment and range of motion to your foot and ankle. Recovery time varies from person to person, but most people resume normal walking within a few weeks after a HyProCure procedure.
If you’re looking for a certified HyProCure provider, call Foot and Ankle Center for the Rockies Specialists to schedule an appointment.
