If the whole of your foot makes contact with the ground when you’re standing on a hard surface, you have flat feet.
Flat feet are not a danger to your health, per se – but they can cause overpronation, and place your feet under added strain.
Read on to learn how to combat the pain and discomfort often associated with fallen arches, and discover how our incredible orthopaedic insoles for flat feet can alleviate pain and correct the alignment of your feet and ankles when worn on a regular basis.
What causes flat feet?
Most people’s feet will naturally begin to arch as they learn to stand and walk and require more support. However, some people do not develop in this way, and their feet remain flat for the rest of their lives.
Others may find themselves with flat feet due to:
- Damage to the bones in the foot or ankle later in life
- Damage to the bones and soft tissues in the feet due to arthritis
- Damage to the Posterior Tibial Tendon
- Being overweight or obese
- Pregnancy
Sometimes the arches of the feet will become weaker and shallower as we get older, too.
Is having flat feet or fallen arches a problem?
No, not in itself. But because an integral part of the foot’s structure is missing, those with flat feet will often suffer from overpronation, which causes the ankles to roll outwards during movement. Overpronation puts the entire musculoskeletal system out of alignment and can lead to pain not only in the feet and ankles, but in the knees, hips, and lower back; the parts of the body that stabilise the body and promote efficient movement.
Without action, this pain will undoubtedly get worse over time – so if you have fallen arches, and you’re noticing that the condition is placing added stress on your muscles and joints, we would recommend investing in our pronation-correcting OrthoSole insoles for flat feet and wearing them throughout the day in your normal footwear.
What are the best insoles for flat feet and fallen arches?
When it comes to correcting overpronation and delivering exceptional support to the undersides of the feet, OrthoSole insoles are amongst some of the best available!
For maximum benefit we recommend purchasing our Max Cushion for your Trainers & Work Boots (shoes with that bit of room) and then our Thin Style for your tight fitting / formal shoes. No matter what shoes you wear making sure the support is there!
The unique arch and metatarsal pads included with every one of our insoles can be adjusted according to the level of arch support you feel is necessary. If you’re only experiencing minor discomfort, try a combination of our Light or Medium pads to begin with; if your fallen arches are proving to be a real issue, insert the Firm pads for enhanced cushioning (as long as they don’t feel intrusive or uncomfortable in either shoe, of course). You can even wear different pads on each foot, if you need to.
Alongside their amazing supportive properties, our insoles for fallen arches are also manufactured with a layer of PORON®, which will conform to the shape of each foot to relieve pressure points, absorb impact, and reduce the amount of stress placed on your feet and legs.
