Here at Sole Motion, we’re always looking to answer your questions, provide useful and practical advice, and give you the information you actually want. As flat feet is a big topic in the clinic, we thought that today we’d answer some of your top questions about flat feet that we get in the clinic – and also that you search online for. Starting with:

 

Are flat feet bad?

 

Contrary to popular belief, having flat feet is not inherently a bad thing. It’s sort of like asking whether having big (or small) hands is bad, or whether being tall is bad. None of these things are bad per se, but they can make some people more vulnerable to certain problems.

For example, if you’re a runner or very active on your feet, you will be using certain muscles more with every step than if you had a ‘neutral’ foot type. Excessive overuse can cause pain and injuries. But this doesn’t happen to everyone, including one of our team members who trained for the New York marathon with pancake-flat feet (albeit supported by good shoes) and didn’t get any foot pain.

So we recommend reframing the question as: is the pain I’m getting, or the problems I’m experiencing, linked to my flat feet? If you’re not getting any foot or leg pain, fantastic. If you are, then we need to determine whether your flat foot posture is playing a role here, and if it is, we want to keep your flat feet supported to help relieve your symptoms and prevent the problem from recurring in the future.

 

Are flat feet genetic?

 

Yes, they can be, though not always. Research has indeed linked flat feet to genetic factors, and these factors can be a number of different things. An example is a gene for looser connective tissues and ligaments. If you inherited this trait, then looser connective tissues in the feet mean that your feet flatten more, and hence promote a flatter foot posture. With this said, it’s not always the case, and many people can’t blame their parents for their flat feet.

 

Can flat feet cause back pain?

 

Can they be somewhat linked? Yes. Can we definitively say that the sole reason someone is experiencing back pain is that they have flat feet? Not at all. Think about all the bones, joints muscles and tissues present from your feet, up the ankles, knees, legs, hips and to your back. It’s a lot! Problems with any one structure from the ground up may be the catalyst for back pain, it doesn’t necessarily have to be flat feet.

A common cause of flat foot-related back pain we see is when you have one foot that is flatter than the other, creating a leg length difference. This can create muscle imbalances and an abnormal gait, which can have a chain reaction up to the back in some people.

For more information about the back and the feet, read our blog on it here.

 

What are the best running shoes for flat feet?

 

This depends on whether you’re already wearing custom orthotics or not. If you’re not, you’ll want a shoe that has built-in arch support, which you may hear referred to as ‘anti-pronatory control’, or use the word ‘pronation’ in there somewhere. Pronation means that your feet roll inwards during gait. You’ll just need the level of support to best match your level of flat-footedness – something that we can help you with, or you can ask your retailer at your local Athlete’s Foot.

 

If you’re already wearing custom foot orthotics, then they’ll be adequately supporting your feet and arches. If you go into a shoe with built-in arch support, you may be bulking up your level of arch support more than is desirable, and encouraging your feet to tip outwards. This puts you at risk of rolling your ankle. Hence, you may want to opt for a ‘neutral’ running shoe. When trying on shoes, always try them with your orthotics and have your foot alignment checked when wearing both together. If you’re unsure if your current running shoes are suitable with your orthotics, bring them in to us at your next appointment for a check.

 

Will I always have flat feet?

Unless your flat feet are the result of an overuse injury like posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD), then yes. For many people, their flat feet are the result of the structure of their bones, the laxity in their ligaments, and other factors that aren’t reversible or treatable.

 

With this said, you don’t have to suffer from painful flat feet. This is one of our specialities here at Sole Motion Podiatry – relieving foot pain and keeping it gone. We’ve helped countless people keep their feet supported and pain-free.

 

How can I fix my flat feet?

 

It’s a lot more about treating your symptoms and correcting the associated painful problems, rather than fixing your flat feet, as flat feet themselves are not the cause of pain. Instead, it is the straining or overuse of muscles and ligaments that cause the pain. So the treatment would be repairing the injured structures, and then keeping the feet supported (often using foot orthotics) to prevent this injury from recurring in the future.

 

Have more questions on flat feet?

 

If you have a question we haven’t answered, let us know! We’re always here to help. If you have flat feet and are worried – or are experiencing any foot pain, then book an appointment with our experienced podiatrists here in Melbourne’s Point Cook. You can book online here or call us on 1300 FX FEET