Fallen arches

"Most people when standing have a gap between the inner side of the foot and the ground they are standing on – this is called the arch. Fallen arches – also known as flat feet – happen when there is a flat arch and the foot rolls over, so there is little or no gap. Symptoms depend on the severity of the condition, but corns, hard skin under the sole of the foot, and a tender arch area are common and shoes will tend to wear out quickly.

FALLEN ARCHES = FLAT FEET

A GAP – an empty space between two things

AN ARCH – the raised curve on the bottom of your foot

TO ROLL OVER – to move on the side

SEVERITY -seriousness

CORNS

SOLE – the bottom part of the foot that touches the ground when you stand or walk

TO WEAR OUT – to use something so much that it is damaged

In severe cases calf, knee, hip or back pain can be experienced. Fallen arches may be hereditary, but in most cases are caused by abnormal walking where the joints in the foot roll in too much. Fallen arches can also cause plantar faciitis, a painful condition where the tight band of connective tissue in the arch of the foot becomes highly inflamed. A ruptured tendon can also lead to a flat foot, as can cerebral palsy, spina bifida and muscular dystrophy.

HEREDITARY – passed from the genes of a parent to a child

ABNORMAL WALKING - incorrect walking

A JOINT – a place in your body where two bones are connected

TO ROLL IN – to move inwards

PLANTAR FACIITIS

INFLAMED – red, painful, and swollen, especially because of infection

RUPTURED - torn

A TENDON – a strong piece of tissue in the body connecting a muscle to a bone

CEREBRAL PALSY – a physical condition involving permanent tightening of the muscles that is caused by damage to the brain around or before the time of birth

SPINA BIFIDA – a serious condition in which part of the spine is not correctly developed at birth, leaving the nerves in the back without any protection

MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY – a serious disease in which a person's muscles gradually become weaker until walking is no longer possible

One has to find a qualified chiropodist or podiatrist who will be able to prescribe individual orthotics – inserts made specifically for feet, which give all the support needed. Otherwise, large chemists and foot specialists, such as Scholl, offer a variety of orthotic inserts especially to support arches."

A CHIROPODIST / A PODIATRIST – a person whose job is to treat problems and diseases of people's feet

ORTHOTICS - supportive inserts for feet

A CHEMIST / A CHEMIST'S – a shop where you can buy medicines and other things

Reference: Courteney Hazel, Langley Stephen, Zeal Gareth “500 of the most important health tips you’ll ever need” (2011)