Are you suffering from pain and discomfort due to flat footed feet? If so, read The Podiatry Institute’s answer to Frequently Asked Questions on flat footed feet, and shop for pain-relieving products at FootSmart.com to help keep you moving in comfort.

What Causes Feet to Become Flat Footed?

Many contributing factors can result in flat footed feet or fallen arches, including any of the following:

You may have flat footed feet because you inherited them from someone in your family.
You may have flat footed feet because you’re getting older. Your foot muscles just naturally weaken over time, so flat footed feet are one possible result of aging.
You may have flat footed feet because you spend a lot of time wearing high heels. Sarah Jessica Parker may have made pricey high heels fashionable, but they’re a nightmare for your feet, resulting in many serious foot conditions that arise over time – including flat footed feet that have no arch support.
You may have flat footed feet because you wore ill-fitting shoes with no arch support for long periods of time.
You may have flat footed feet because you are overweight. The extra weight just places that much added strain on the foot and the foot’s sensitive arch.

What Does It Mean to Be Flat Footed?

Those who have flat footed feet are missing foot arch support. Without any kind of foot arch, people with flat footed feet are forced to walk on other parts of their feet, which can cause pain and callus development. People who are flat footed may turn their feet outward at the ankle, for example, causing a walk that’s concentrated on the foot’s inside boarder.

What Other Symptoms Can Develop From Being Flat Footed?

As stated above, walking with flat footed feet causes foot pain, but did you know that other parts of your body are also affected? People with flat footed feet can develop posture and alignment problems, causing pain in the knees and lower back. The flat footed “walk” also places additional strain on the ligament and tendons that support the foot and ankle, so as time goes by, your bones can actually collapse, leading to ankle sprains, heel spurs, arthritis and other foot and lower body conditions.

What Can I Do to Treat and Prevent Flat Footed Feet?

Wearing proper footwear with good arch support is the best way to relieve pain from flat footed feet. You can also treat and prevent flat footed feet by adding arch supports, inserts, custom orthotics or insoles to your shoes.

Where Can I Find Products to Treat Flat Footed Feet?

FootSmart has a wide selection of comfort shoes and healthcare products – including arch supports – that you can try to help ease the pain of flat footed feet.

When Should I See a Physician About My Flat Footed Feet?

Please visit your doctor immediately if you are unsuccessful at relieving the pain caused by flat footed feet with inserts and/or proper shoes. People who have very serious cases of flat footed feet may need surgery to stabilize the bones and improve foot support and function.

Information on foot, leg and lower body health conditions like plantar fascia pain provided by The Podiatry Institute, dedicated to advancing the standard of care in podiatric medicine and its effects on musculoskeletal health.