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Flatfeet Become Respectable
Karl B. Fields, MD
Arch Fam Med. 1993;2(7):723-724.
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| Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings. |
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THE STUDY by Cowan et al2 associates increasing arch height with progressive risk of musculoskeletal injury. While sports medicine literature documents the association of cavus feet (rigid feet with high arches) with increased injuries,3-5 the low risk of flatfeet challenges conventional thinking. Historically, flatfeet have been considered a pathological condition that predisposed individuals to foot problems.
The military declared war on the flatfoot sometime after World War I, and regulations of both the US Army and Navy state that "persons with pronounced or thirddegree pronation were eligible for discharge or disqualification without consideration of the clinical symptoms." This statute was not implemented lightly. Military history from the 19th century had indicated that as many as 50% of the patients seen by physicians complained of foot problems. Foot symptoms led to 30% to 40% of the medical discharges from the US Army.6 The observation that a number
. . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]
Author Affiliations
Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital Greensboro, NC
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