title: Painful Flexible Flatfoot.
abstract: Flatfoot is commonly encountered by pediatric orthopedic surgeons and pediatricians. A paucity of literature exists on how to define a flatfoot. The absence of the medial arch with a valgus hindfoot is the hallmark of this pathology. Flatfoot can be flexible or rigid. This review focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of the flexible flatfoot. Most flatfeet are flexible and clinically asymptomatic, and warrant little intervention. If feet are symptomatic, treatment is needed. Most patients who require treatment improve with foot orthotics and exercises. Only feet resistant to conservative modalities are deemed surgical candidates. The presence of a tight heel cord is often found in patients who fail conservative management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10003, USA.
authors.forename: Abdel Majid
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sheikh Taha
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10003, USA. Electronic address: David.Feldman@nyumc.org.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Feldman
mesh_terms: D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005413:Flatfoot / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D061826:Foot Orthoses; D006801:Humans; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures
keywords: Flexible flatfoot; Pain; Pes equinovalgus; Pes planovalgus; Treatment