Flatfoot is used to describe several complex foot disorders, each with its own causes and symptoms. The one common thread running through these conditions is a partial or complete collapse of the arch of the foot.
If you have flat feet, also known as pes planus, you will have a very low arch or no arch at all, meaning one or both of your feet press flat on the ground.
Flat feet can be congenital (you're born with it) or can develop over time. Most who suffer from flat feet have no symptoms and normal foot function. But others it causes pain and discomfort. And those who don’t suffer from flat foot pain can suffer increased pain from activity and poor supportive shoes with a lack of arch support.
Board-Certified Podiatric Foot and Ankle Specialist, Dr. Gary Briskin, DPM, FACFAS, began his medical training by serving a residency at Flint General Hospital in Michigan. Once completed, he established a practice in Century City Hospital, where he soon became chief of podiatric surgery.
Dr. Briskin is a Diplomat of the American Board of Podiatric Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. He also serves as an assistant clinical professor at the UCLA School of Medicine and is co-founder and co-director of University Foot and Ankle Institute.