Most feet are flexible. Stand on your toes and an arch appears. If your feet are flat and you stand on your toes, the arch is missing or diminished. You can check the degree of foot flatness by standing with wet feet on a cement floor. The print of the foot will show a large contact with the surface.
Flat feet lean inward when the person stands up straight.
Stiff, inflexible flat feet may be associated with other conditions and require attention. Persistent pain Call your health care provider if you experience persistent pain in your feet. Also have a child checked out if he or she complains of pain in the foot or lower leg. The medical name for flat feet is pes planus. Alternative names are pes planovalgus, fallen arches, or pronation of the feet.