If you have flat feet, your feet do not have a normal arch when
standing, possibly causing pain when you do extensive physical
activity. The condition, also referred to as pes planus or
fallen arches, is normal in infants and usually disappears by
age 2 or 3 as the ligaments and tendons in the foot and leg
tighten. However, it can last through to adulthood. It is very
common: twenty-five percent of American adults have this
condition. Having flat feet is rarely serious. In some cases,
flat feet are caused by injuries or illness, creating problems
with walking, running, or standing for long hours. Flexible Flat
Foot Flexible flat foot is the most common type of the condition
and usually does not cause pain. If you have this type, it has
been present since childhood. The arch in your feet appears only
when you lift them off the ground, and your soles touch the
ground fully when you place your feet on the ground. Short
Achilles Tendon If the tendon that connects your heel bone to
your calf muscle (Achilles tendo