Having flat feet is a condition in which the arches of the foot are lower than normal. Flat feet are apparent during walking or standing as the arch collapses and the entire sole of the foot nearly touches or comes into complete contact with the ground.
A flat foot is normal in infants and toddlers, because it takes time for the young child’s arch to fully develop. While most people’s arches develop throughout childhood, some people never develop arches. Flat feet can be genetic and caused by a pronation of the foot that flattens the arch.
Several tendons in your foot and lower leg work together to form the arches in your foot. When the tendons pull properly, your foot forms a moderate, normal arch. When they do not, this results in a form of flat feet. Fallen arches are a result of the stretching of the ligaments and tendons of the foot, which removes needed support of the arch structure causing the person to have flat feet.