Flat feet help?

How does one actually start "treating" plantar fasciitis? Who should I see first if I want to skip the general practitioner? Also, which companies sell those foot orthotics—you know, the ones that use questionable methods just to squeeze money out of people? What’s the average price range for inserts these days? I'm curious about the different types and which ones actually work. Lastly, are there any specific exercises for flat feet?

Thanks in advance

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Exercises include walking on the outer edges of the feet, walking
on the inner edges, or even walking heel-to-toe on a broomstick. 😉

Basically, we need more beach time—lots of walking on sand or gravel.
So, my little nephew has totally flat feet, and we’ve been bouncing between all kinds of doctors—private specialists, clinic visits, you name it, the bills are piling up. One private specialist actually told us that all those fancy orthopedic shoes and custom inserts are a complete scam; he said they're just a way to fleece naive parents out of their money. His take? You can't "fix" flat feet, so why bother? Just find some comfortable, regular sneakers and call it a day. Apparently, the only thing that really helps is some foot exercises to loosen things up. But then, another doctor comes along and says the exact opposite, leaving us wondering who the hell to actually trust. At the end of the day, his parents decided to go with the guy who thinks the specialized footwear is a total rip-off.

So, as the title suggests, I’ve been dealing with some pretty intense flat feet for quite a while now—we’re talking completely flat, where my footprint is basically just a solid block. Honestly, I’m not even sure if there’s a way to actually "fix" them at this point (probably not), but I would love nothing more than for my feet to look somewhat normal inside my shoes. I am officially exhausted from cycling through endless different types of insoles that ultimately just end up being a total waste of money, so if anyone out there has found a real solution or can recommend a fantastic podiatrist, I would be incredibly grateful...😍

I’ve got foot drop myself, and honestly, it doesn't bother me one bit.
If you're actually struggling—like if your gait is off or you're dealing with constant pain—then sure, go see a doctor. But for most kids who aren't showing those symptoms, there's no need for intervention. It’s the same for adults with flat feet; unless it's causing actual pain, leave it alone.

Physical therapy can help if walking becomes an issue.
Surgery is rare—only if the deformity is significant.

And of course, there are orthotics.

I suppose there isn't much you can actually do in terms of correcting the issue. My daughter was diagnosed with the same thing when she was four—an orthopedic doctor literally described her feet as being like elephant feet—and now, after three years, they've almost straightened out on their own. It wasn't even thanks to those inserts, which we only used for a few months, but rather just staying active through sports. I’m seeing the exact same thing with my younger son, so I guess I'll be signing him up for soccer next year, or whatever sport he decides he likes.

As for me, I've dealt with this my whole life, and for thirty-eight years, it never really bothered me until the pains started hitting my hands and shoulders. A physiatrist eventually told me I have scoliosis, which apparently stems from flat feet combined with my desk job. I went through physical therapy, and honestly, after finishing that and sticking to a daily workout routine for two months, the pain has finally subsided and I don't seem to have any issues anymore.

I'm 19 years old and I still deal with flat feet. Because of that, my knees tend to cave inward quite a bit when I walk.
If I start a consistent exercise routine now, could I actually improve my knee alignment?
Or am I already too late? 😕

Daniel White5 said:I'm 19 years old and I still deal with flat feet. Because of that, my knees tend to cave inward quite a bit when I walk.
If I start a consistent exercise routine now, could I actually improve my knee alignment?
Or am I already too late? 😕

Look, just fix what you can, okay? You aren't too old to start making some changes when it comes to your health—seriously, don't even go there! Just do whatever works for you—get some movement in, watch what kind of shoes you’re wearing, whatever—just please, be careful. Because those flat feet issues? They always come back to haunt you in different ways. It’s like what you were saying—it hits your knees, then moves up to your spine, then your neck... it's a whole chain reaction. And honestly, that stubborn fat buildup on the inner thighs? A lot of that is just because of poor posture or how your legs are aligned at the top—since the muscles end up relaxing way more than they actually should—and then your hips take the brunt of it. I could go on and on about this all day, but my point is: just do what you need to do, but please, look after yourself...

Thank you so much... I was honestly starting to worry that I was getting too old for this... but I've actually been hitting the rock climbing gyms for about six months now, and I've even started working out at home lately! I feel much better now... 🙂

So, can you actually "cure" flat feet for good, or is it really just about making things more comfortable?

Carl Thompson6 said:So, can you actually "cure" flat feet for good, or is it really just about making things more comfortable?

Honestly, I'm not an expert or anything—definitely leave that to the specialists—but I don't think we're talking about a total "cure" here. It’s more about keeping the whole thing under control so it doesn't spiral, you know? Like, I didn't take care of myself back in the day because I figured there wasn't much anyone could do... and man, I paid for it. If I'd been smarter, my feet probably still wouldn't be perfect, but at least I wouldn't have all this extra damage piled on top. Plus, if you happen to put on some weight, it just puts even more stress on your arches and really speeds up that downward slide... Just my two cents, anyway. I'm sure one of those orthopedic surgeons can give you the clinical breakdown, but this is just what I've lived through...

Henry Alvarez78 said:Honestly, I'm not an expert or anything—definitely leave that to the specialists—but I don't think we're talking about a total "cure" here. It’s more about keeping the whole thing under control so it doesn't spiral, you know? Like, I didn't take care of myself back in the day because I figured there wasn't much anyone could do... and man, I paid for it. If I'd been smarter, my feet probably still wouldn't be perfect, but at least I wouldn't have all this extra damage piled on top. Plus, if you happen to put on some weight, it just puts even more stress on your arches and really speeds up that downward slide... Just my two cents, anyway. I'm sure one of those orthopedic surgeons can give you the clinical breakdown, but this is just what I've lived through...

Look, you aren't going to use exercises and orthotic inserts to magically reshape your feet into some perfect mold. But, I guess you can help the arches improve slightly and strengthen the muscles that support them, which keeps the deformity from progressing. You really ought to start the exercises as early as possible. And honestly, those custom inserts aren't useless; by changing the way your foot sits, you change the entire chain of force moving up through your body. Like you mentioned, it affects your knees, hips, and spine. If you ignore it, you won't just be dealing with sore feet anymore; you'll eventually be dealing with knee pain, hip issues, and chronic back problems too.

I’ve got flat feet—plain and simple—and honestly, getting some orthopedic inserts was a total game-changer for my lower back pain. But then, something weird happened. My lumbar area just... stopped hurting. It was like that hyperlordosis finally leveled out on its own, though my neck still acts up from time to time. Seriously though, don't wait around—go see a doctor and actually listen to what they tell you.

Hey there.

I’ve got a question regarding those orthopedic inserts you slip into your shoes.
Where can I actually pick some up?

I'm 19, and my feet have been leaning toward flat for a few years now, but I just noticed the inner arches have basically given up entirely.
It hasn't caused me any real issues so far, but I'm starting to worry about what this is going to do to my mobility down the road.

I have a specific question and I am hoping for some guidance, as this is becoming a significant issue for me.
Since I am still a minor, I am concerned about my flat feet and the fact that a small bone near my pinky toe has started protruding outward.😢 I have been using orthotic inserts for two years now, but I haven't seen any improvement whatsoever. I am looking for some sound advice or recommendations on where I might find high-quality orthopedic shoes that could actually help prevent further deformity... please respond as soon as possible. Thank you in advance.

It seems like so many people deal with foot issues, but some of us are dealing with the really nasty stuff—constant pain in our feet and calves, tingling sensations, headaches, just feeling totally wiped out, not to mention the aesthetic side of things like my feet rolling inward...

I’ve heard people say that if you don't fix these problems while you're young, you're basically stuck wearing orthotics for the rest of your life, but then I wonder, what are you supposed to do during those three months of summer when everyone is just hanging out in flip-flops?

From my own experience, I've found that those inserts don't really do much, whereas actual exercise can make a huge difference; for instance, I actually took an adult ballet class for a little while and my foot shape actually "lifted," the pain completely vanished, and I even ended up dropping half a shoe size!??!

Unfortunately, my local dance studio ended up closing down, I stopped exercising regularly, and everything just slid right back to how it was after a few months... does anyone know of any specific exercises that might help, or have you guys tried anything yourselves?

Look, humans evolved walking barefoot on uneven ground. Everyone had calluses, claws like hawks, and skin thick enough to be armor—but their feet were actually functional 😁

Pure logic says strengthening the muscles helps, generally speaking. Works for me. Though, even with my platform boots, I’ve never dealt with the issues you're talking about—my feet just look a bit too wide, which isn't exactly a great look 🤷

The best fix? Just get some high-quality orthotic inserts.

Arthur Ramirez7 said:It seems like so many people deal with foot issues, but some of us are dealing with the really nasty stuff—constant pain in our feet and calves, tingling sensations, headaches, just feeling totally wiped out, not to mention the aesthetic side of things like my feet rolling inward...

I’ve heard people say that if you don't fix these problems while you're young, you're basically stuck wearing orthotics for the rest of your life, but then I wonder, what are you supposed to do during those three months of summer when everyone is just hanging out in flip-flops?

From my own experience, I've found that those inserts don't really do much, whereas actual exercise can make a huge difference; for instance, I actually took an adult ballet class for a little while and my foot shape actually "lifted," the pain completely vanished, and I even ended up dropping half a shoe size!??!

Unfortunately, my local dance studio ended up closing down, I stopped exercising regularly, and everything just slid right back to how it was after a few months... does anyone know of any specific exercises that might help, or have you guys tried anything yourselves?

Well, if you already know from firsthand experience what worked best (and obviously, your shoe size dropped because your arches improved!), then the simplest solution is to get back to it. Try to remember all those moves you did at the studio and force yourself to do them every single day. It's clearly way more effective than that toe-heel-edge walking, picking up scraps of fabric with your toes, or using a massage roller!

David Palmer5 said:Well, if you already know from firsthand experience what worked best (and obviously, your shoe size dropped because your arches improved!), then the simplest solution is to get back to it. Try to remember all those moves you did at the studio and force yourself to do them every single day. It's clearly way more effective than that toe-heel-edge walking, picking up scraps of fabric with your toes, or using a massage roller!

It’s definitely not simple, though, because even for an amateur like me, a classical ballet workout is absolutely brutal 😢
plus, there is just such a massive amount of stuff to try and remember to repeat...