What Does Flat Feet Look Like?
For parents and laypeople trying to understand flat foot syndrome (medical term: pes planus), we can identify flat feet in kids by looking at two key aspects: physical appearance and foot function.
Physical Appearance
What does a flat foot sole look like? Look for these 3 visible features:
-
No visible foot arch while standing on a flat surface;
-
Ankle joints turn inward (not in a straight vertical line while standing); and
-
A wet footprint looks significantly wider than normal, showing a complete imprint of the sole.
Healthy Feet
Flat Feet
Function
Do flat feet function differently from healthy arched feet?
Yes, flat feet work very differently, especially during active movements like walking, squatting, jumping, and running.
Not every child with a low arch requires immediate medical intervention.
The key question when evaluating flat feet in children is whether the foot functions normally when walking, squatting, jumping, and running.