To determine the presence of flat feet, there is a simple method. You need to take a fat cream and a piece of paper. Lubricate the sole of the foot with cream and step on the paper. Stand straight, leaning on the entire foot, otherwise the result may be erroneous. Now take a close look at your footprint. Normally, there is a recess along the inner edge of the foot, which occupies more than half of the foot in the middle. If this notch is absent at all or it is narrow (half a foot or less), this indicates the presence of flat feet.

There are other signs that indicate the presence of flat feet:

after physical exertion, the foot aches (the first stage of the disease);
by evening, the feet are tired and swollen;
pain covers the entire leg up to the knee joint (second stage of flat feet);
in the third stage of the disease, the lower back begins to hurt, and walking (in shoes) becomes a torment. Pain in the legs can be combined with persistent headaches;
the leg seemed to have grown – you have to buy shoes a size larger;
on old shoes, heels are worn out on the inside.
However, the listed signs may not correspond to flat feet, but to another disease – for example, vascular or endocrine, so you still need to consult a doctor.

A complete cure for flat feet is possible only in childhood. In adults, the development of the disease can only be slowed down.