Flat feet help?

quietpilot87 said: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.

For me, those inserts didn't really do much at all; they feel fine while you actually have them in, but the second you take them out, it's like they never even existed... and yeah, my feet definitely look a bit clunky too, especially during the summer months.

So, looking back about three or four years ago, I ended up seeing my doctor because of these nagging bouts of back pain that would flare up whenever I played a recreational game of soccer. The diagnosis was flat feet, and the solution was a pair of custom orthotics. I had them made, wore them consistently, and everything felt perfectly fine. However, life happened, and I stopped wearing them regularly; for the last year and a half, they’ve mostly just been sitting in a drawer, used only occasionally at best. Recently, I decided to get serious about it again and slipped them back into my cleats, but during my last two games, my back was absolutely killing me.
Is this simply a matter of my body needing time to readjust after such a long hiatus, or is it possible that the inserts have lost their effectiveness and I actually need a new pair made? I honestly can't tell if I'm better off with them or without them these days.

Scott Chavez96 said:So, looking back about three or four years ago, I ended up seeing my doctor because of these nagging bouts of back pain that would flare up whenever I played a recreational game of soccer. The diagnosis was flat feet, and the solution was a pair of custom orthotics. I had them made, wore them consistently, and everything felt perfectly fine. However, life happened, and I stopped wearing them regularly; for the last year and a half, they’ve mostly just been sitting in a drawer, used only occasionally at best. Recently, I decided to get serious about it again and slipped them back into my cleats, but during my last two games, my back was absolutely killing me.
Is this simply a matter of my body needing time to readjust after such a long hiatus, or is it possible that the inserts have lost their effectiveness and I actually need a new pair made? I honestly can't tell if I'm better off with them or without them these days.

It sounds like you’re just being inconsistent with your orthotics. If they work for you, wear them. Using them sporadically offers zero benefit to your feet. Of course, if you go weeks without wearing them, you’ll have to deal with that painful readjustment period all over again. I actually quit wearing mine because the initial adjustment pain was unbearable, only to have my old symptoms come roaring back. Persistence is the only way through this. Grit your teeth and wear them every single day; if the pain doesn't subside in a few days, get yourself to a specialist for a follow-up.

Maybe your foot size changed and now those pads feel way too small and uncomfortable? That’s exactly what happened to me once.

I’ve got flat feet.
The orthopedic specialists are telling me it can't be fixed once you're an adult—apparently, at 21, I'm already "set" in my ways.
I'm looking for some real-world insight here—how are you all managing this? Is there actually any chance of correcting the alignment?
Specifically, I'm talking about restoring that arch.

Are you actually okay with that, or...???

If you’ve already been consulting with orthopedic specialists, I’m curious why you didn't bring this specific question up with them during your appointments?
From what I understand about these kinds of issues, focusing on strengthening the muscles in your feet can actually make a significant difference, though I suspect using custom orthotics might just be a way to manage the discomfort rather than providing an actual cure.
Since I haven't personally dealt with this particular issue, I can't quite recall the specific exercises used for rehabilitation, but I have always believed that walking barefoot on pebbles or similar uneven surfaces naturally engages those small muscle groups.
Given how young you still are, I am quite confident that you can make a lot of progress through consistent effort, and I truly wish you nothing but the best of luck with your recovery!

feralharbor89 said:If you’ve already been consulting with orthopedic specialists, I’m curious why you didn't bring this specific question up with them during your appointments?
From what I understand about these kinds of issues, focusing on strengthening the muscles in your feet can actually make a significant difference, though I suspect using custom orthotics might just be a way to manage the discomfort rather than providing an actual cure.
Since I haven't personally dealt with this particular issue, I can't quite recall the specific exercises used for rehabilitation, but I have always believed that walking barefoot on pebbles or similar uneven surfaces naturally engages those small muscle groups.
Given how young you still are, I am quite confident that you can make a lot of progress through consistent effort, and I truly wish you nothing but the best of luck with your recovery!

thanks

There are several threads open here, yet I fail to see any specific mention of which exercises actually target flat feet—especially since walking on gravel is currently out of the question for me. I am an adult now, and the pain in my knees is becoming quite significant due to my inward gait, leaving me at a loss... I have no interest in purchasing those generic drugstore insoles; I would much rather have custom orthotics made from a mold of my own feet. If anyone has any recommendations, please do share them

Arthur Ramirez7 said:For me, those inserts didn't really do much at all; they feel fine while you actually have them in, but the second you take them out, it's like they never even existed... and yeah, my feet definitely look a bit clunky too, especially during the summer months.

Orthotics are just a waste of money.
There are tons of exercises online.

Hey there, Lawrence Wells,

So, you mentioned those orthopedic inserts used to be a lifesaver for you for a while back in the day. I was wondering, what ended up happening after that phase passed? How are you managing everything now with the flat feet situation? It seems like one of those things that just keeps evolving, doesn't it?

Best,
gentlehawk85

Is surgery actually an option for dealing with flat feet...??

My 13-month-old seems to have flat feet. Does anyone know where I can pick up those orthopedic inserts?

Man, I’ve definitely dealt with flat feet too! But honestly? I managed to get things pretty much under control by making a habit out of walking on gravel paths and doing specific foot exercises.
The one thing I try to stay far away from is those orthotic inserts. I used to wear them, but here’s the kicker: they only give you this fake sense of relief while you actually have them in. As soon as you take them out, everything just snaps back to how it was—or sometimes, it actually feels even worse! Your arches are constantly collapsing, and let's be real, the muscles just aren't strong enough on their own.
I think using those inserts is only really justifiable if someone has a job where they’re stuck standing in one spot all day, since that’s when the pressure on your arches is at its absolute peak. But even then, shouldn't you still be working on strengthening things whenever possible? You gotta stretch those feet out, walk on uneven terrain to build up that muscle, and stuff like that. Plus, if you aren't in a situation where you *have* to wear them, you should try to mix it up with regular shoes without inserts so your feet don't get lazy and totally dependent on them.

Exercises for Flat Feet (including http://www.krenizdravo.com/vitalnost...ustena-stopala)

I have been looking into this, and I have found a few quite effective exercises designed to strengthen those foot muscles and ligaments:

1. Walking barefoot whenever you can—it’s particularly beneficial to walk on uneven terrain, such as gravel paths, rocky trails, or even a sandy beach down at the coast.
2. Picking up objects with your feet—for this one, you sit down and go barefoot. Find something light enough to be gripped by your toes, perhaps a napkin, a pencil, or a ping-pong ball... Grip the object firmly using your toes and the sole of your foot. Lift your foot with the object attached and hold that position for about 15 seconds. You should repeat this with both feet. Doing this for 10 minutes every single day proves to be highly useful.
3. Sit in the position shown in the image below. Maintaining this specific posture will help fortify the muscles in your feet. Perform the exercise with both feet. In yoga circles, this position is referred to as "Virasana," or the Hero Pose.

Also, take a look at this: http://www.ehow.com/how_4550126_rebu...flat-feet.html

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Lisa Palmer7 said:My 13-month-old seems to have flat feet. Does anyone know where I can pick up those orthopedic inserts?

Honestly, you don't need to worry about inserts until they hit age three. A child's foot is still developing quite a bit at this stage. There’s actually a great book out there regarding foot exercises and development—it covers everything about manual therapy for pediatric foot issues. Just stick to some regular exercises and you'll be fine. Best of luck!

I am 23. I have flat feet—haven't done anything about it yet—but my back has started acting up lately after being on my feet too much. Because of the flat feet, my knees tend to cave inward when I walk.
I want to know if starting to wear orthotics will actually help, and where one even finds them? Do I need a doctor's visit for this, or can I just pick some up at a drugstore?

Does anyone know where I can pick up—or maybe even get some custom-made—really high-quality shoe insoles around here in Cincinnati?

refresh

Hi there.

I’m 29. Back when I was younger, my physical during a sports team tryout flagged some mild flat feet. Honestly, I didn't think much of it at the time—just figured I was young and invincible. It wasn't an issue for years, but lately, things have changed. If I’m on my feet for too long, my feet start aching, specifically around the heels. I had some photos taken, and everything looks fine on paper. I've scheduled an appointment with the orthopedic department at Mayo Clinic for October 28th. I'd appreciate any advice or insight you all might have regarding this, or your experiences with the specialists over at Mayo.

Thanks in advance.