Also known as Pes planus, fallen arches, pes planovalgus. All children look as if they have flat feet when they are toddlers because the medial longitudinal arch has not developed in them and also because they have a fat pad on their feet which disappears later.
Arches should form by the age of 2 or 3 years. Sometimes, an arch can be demonstrated on the child standing on tiptoe.
By adulthood, only 1 in 7 adults has flat feet. Failure to develop an arch is not a problem for most people with it although, in some, flat feet may cause some problems with active running or jumping. Shoe modification or inserts may be required for some people. Corrective surgery is only considered in adolescents with troublesome symptoms.
see also pes cavus