How To Reduce The Effects Of Flat Feet

Almost 20% of the population has flat feet, or more correctly, fallen arches. The causes are many, however, modern research seems to point to the incorrect footwear we force our young children to wear. Under the age of six, children are often best left barefoot unless there is a real need for footwear – for example, going out when the weather’s freezing. In adults, flat feet can cause a number of issues, particularly pain in the feet, ankles and knees.

You can tell if you have flat feet in a number of ways, the most obvious being an impression made in soft soil or sand. You can also try something as simple as a child’s water-based finger paint – step in a tray of the stuff then walk across a sheet of paper. If you have left an impression of the whole foot, then you most probably have flat feet. If there is a large gap between the imprint of your toes and your heel, the chances are you don’t have flat feet – anything in between could be an indication of a partial fallen arch.

Flat feet occur when the muscles and ligaments fail to hold the arches of your feet upright. While there are many podiatrists who advocate physiotherapy and exercise as a way to “cure” flat feet, you will struggle to regain any proper arch in your foot. Exercises will help to strengthen your feet and can help to reduce the impact caused by flat feet. For most people, the most effective treatment is to wear custom-made arch supports.

Custom-made arch supports are made to fit the foot of one person. They made from an impression of the foot and designed to exactly match the current size of the arch – if any arch remains at all. Custom arch supports are used inside shoes and force the foot to assume the natural shape of a normal foot. The long-term effects are a reduction in pain and a better walking gait. This reduces the impact your feet may have on other areas of your body such as your hips and spinal column.