health

Flat feet can happen at any age, and babies are born with them. Babies
have fatty pads in the soles of the foot and in front of the heel, which fills
the arch and gives feet their flat appearance. By three years of age, when
children are walking properly, their feet no longer have a flat look. When
children are between three to six years of age, the muscles of their feet
become stronger, the fat disappears, and an arch develops. If the arches have
not appeared by about age five or six—as happens with approximately one
in every 10 children—a child is likely to have flat feet through adulthood.
Adults may have flat feet but still have good muscle tone and no pain.
If feet are extremely flat, a doctor may recommend orthotics (arch supports)
and a firm shoe to enable the person to walk without foot strain. Upwards
of 75 percent of Americans have foot pain at some time, and flat feet may
be the cause.