Those with flat feet have low arches on their feet or have no arches at all. The remedy to this is the use of the best orthotic insoles for flat feet. In most cases though, the condition will not lead to any serious problems and treatment may not be necessary. The arch of the feet, also known as the instep, is that inside portion of the foot that is being raised off the ground whenever you need to stand up, while the rest will stay flat right on the ground.
Normally, our feet will have that noticeable space right within the inner part. This part is sometimes called the arch of our foot. The height of such arch will greatly vary from one person to another.
How to Tell if You Have Flat Feet
It’s easy to tell if a person has flat feet by simply observing his or her manner of walking or standing. If you have it, your inner foot or the arch will flatten and your feet might roll over towards the inner side. Such occurrence is called the overpronation and the shoe inserts can help to prevent this from happening.
To find out if your feet will overpronate, simply stand on tiptoe or thrust your big toe backward as far as you can. If the arch of your feet will not appear, then this means that your feet have overpronated and that you most likely have flat feet. It is hard to tell if a child has flat feet since the arches of their feet may not have been fully developed yet. The arches often develop at the age of ten.
Another easy diagnosis is the wet footprint test. Just get your feet wet and step on a flat and uniform surface, as shown on the video below. If you see almost your entire footprint, you have flat feet.
What are the Causes of Flat Feet?
For some people, having low arches on their feet or having no arches at all is no big deal. Usually, flat feet are inherited and that the feet are merely flexible. In some cases, the flat feet could be due to an abnormality which develops in the womb, like a problem on the joint wherein two or more bones are being fused altogether. Such condition is known as the tarsal coalition and this could lead to the feet staying flat and stiff and thus, the use of orthotics might be necessary.
There are also those whose flat feet have developed later in life because of a condition that affects the joints. Among these conditions are the arthritis and injury to a muscle, joint and tendon on the feet.
Certain conditions that are related to the nervous system, such as the spinal cord and brain, could also lead to the arches to stay flat. As time goes by, the muscle will gradually become stiff and weak until such time that it loses its flexibility. The conditions wherein this can happen are cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, as well as spina bifida.
Adult acquired flat feet usually affect women who are 40 years old and above. Sometimes, it goes unnoticed and will develop if the tendon which supports the feet will arch gradually and stretch over time. It is not fully understood what exactly causes the tendon to stretch, however, some medical experts have attributed it to the constant wearing of high heels and walking and standing for a long period of time. High blood pressure, obesity, as well as diabetes are also risk factors for flat feet.
Recent studies have found a link with the changes on the tendon on the feet to an increasing number of proteins known as the proteolytic enzyme. Such enzymes could break down some of the areas of the tendon which causes it to weaken and will cause the foot arch to fall.
There are also similar changes that can be seen on other conditions, like the Achilles tendonitis. This will have a big impact on treating flat feet since the medication will specifically target the enzyme that could be a good alternative to surgery. But then, further research is needed with this type of treatment. At the moment, the best treatment is to make use of orthotics.
What are the Problems Associated with Flat Feet?
Flat feet will not usually cause any problem. However, they could trigger a strain on your muscles as well as on your ligaments and this is the reason why using arch supports for flat feet is needed. It is the ligaments that link the two bones together at a certain joint that will be strained and this will elicit extreme pain on your legs as you walk. If you are suffering from flat feet, you could feel pain on these areas:
- arches on your feet
- calf
- insides of the ankle
- knee, back and hip
- outer areas of your feet
Some of those who have flat feet will find that their weight is unevenly distributed, especially if their foot will roll inward a lot of times, also known as overpronate. If your feet will overpronate, your shoes could wear out quickly and therefore, you need to use orthotics. In addition, over pronation can also cause damages on your ankle joint as well as the Achilles tendon, or that large tendon right at the back area of your ankle.
What are Orthotics for Flat Feet?
It is a type of insert or insole that is being worn by people who have flat feet. The inserts are added right within the inside areas of the footwear in order to provide support to the natural structure of the feet. As you know, your feet are the base of the support of your entire body, so if you have flat feet, this might cause your body to tilt. The orthotics will therefore help your feet to support your entire body in order to prevent this.
These days, you will find the best orthotics for flat feet being sold on drugstores and even shoe stores. These over the counter arch supports are available in various sizes and can be simply inserted on your footwear. There are also custom made foot orthotics that can be ordered from a medical professional. When you order this type of arch support, the podiatrist will have to first examine your feet and your gait and will have a thorough analysis of the pain that you might be experiencing. This way, they could come up with something that will drive away all the pain and discomfort that you have on your feet.
How to Choose the Right Shoe Inserts for Flat Feet
It is important that you choose the right one. Using something that is not suitable for you will be deemed useless and is just a big waste of money. So here’s how to choose the right one for you:
- First of all, look for an orthotic that is not too rigid for you. If force is being applied to an overly rigid orthotic, the design of the insole might not be able to compress adequately. This will then transmit the shock generated by your feet towards the joints of your body and will cause discomfort on your back, knees and ankles.
- Avoid choosing an orthotic that is very cushiony. A flimsy orthotic might feel comfortable at first. However, this will not be able to provide adequate support on the arches of your feet and is just useless. This type of orthotics is not effective in alleviating the symptoms caused by flat feet and is therefore a big waste of money.
You’re probably tempted to have one customized by a podiatrist. Usually, you don’t need to get a custom pair. There are a lot of good options for over the counter insoles out there that present a lot of benefits. For starters, they’re more convenient to get and they’re cheaper. You can get immediate relief right now at an inexpensive price.
Best Orthotic Insoles for Flat Feet – Comparison Table
The Best Choice: Samurai Orthotic Insoles for Flat Feet
Would you love nothing more than to finally feel completely comfortable in all your favorite shoes, even if they aren’t exactly designed for flat feet?
If so, you’re going to want to take a closer look at the Orthotic Inserts offered by Samurai Insoles. Specifically designed to provide long-lasting comfort (all day comfort, really) for anyone struggling with flat feet, these relatively inexpensive insoles sure beat spending $500 or more on custom-made orthotics that provide the exact same benefits!
Designed and developed by some of the best podiatrists, these arch supports have been created to relieve pain and discomfort while wearing “standard shoes” while at the same time gently massaging your feet with each and every single step. Better than that though is the fact that you’ll be able to really custom tailor each of these orthotics by Samurai Insoles to your specific needs and your specific footfall just by wearing them for about a week or so.
Best of all, these insoles can be placed into any type of shoe (including work boots and slippers) to provide you with the kind of comfort that you’re looking for – the kind of comfort that you deserve! Compared to most other options that are on the market right now to help people with flat feet, these really are the very best of the best. Click Here to Check Out The Samurai Orthotic Insoles at Amazon.com!
Our Second Choice: Footminders Orthotic Insoles for Flat Feet
In order to take advantage of over the counter orthotics, you need to buy one from a trusted brand. When it comes to this product, Footminders is one of the best. The company specializes in doing scientific research that allows them to come up with orthotics designs that can help sufferers achieve comfort and great foot health. In addition, their products are designed by experienced podiatrists.
Best of all, they offer a shoe insert for just about every occasion. This ensures that you won’t feel pain no matter what you’re doing or what shoes you’re wearing. Here are their 4 products that you have to buy to achieve comfort and good foot health:
Footminders Comfort Orthotic Insoles for Sport Shoes and Work Boots
Do you consider yourself as a sportsman but you can’t really play a lot of sports because of your flat feet? If yes, you can benefit from this product. It’s specifically designed with sports in mind. As you can probably imagine, our feet goes through a lot of abuse when we’re playing sports. If you have flat feet, then the pain becomes too unbearable that you just forget about playing.
The same thing applies if your work requires you to do a lot of manual labor. You need something that can help alleviate the pain brought upon by flat feet.
Either way, these insoles from Footminders can help you. They’re designed to work with sports shoes or work boots. These arch supports have double layers of firm and stable EVA plus 2 mm of soft forefoot and heel pads that will provide your flat feet with the right amount of cushion.
These insoles are so good that they’re even recommended for people suffering from plantar fasciitis. Professional athletes are sidelined by this injury all the time. It doesn’t have to happen to you. Click Here to Check Out The Comfort Orthotic Insoles at Amazon.com!
Footminders Casual Orthotic Insoles for Dress Shoes
You have to buy this pair for the office. They’re designed to help you stand or walk in a pair of dress shoes all day. Actually, you can also wear this pair at night on a date or at a party. This works well in a low-heeled pair of dress shoes so as long as you have a pair of dress shoes; this is an excellent option.
Podiatrists usually recommend this because it offers firm and stable foot arch support without compromising comfort. It’s not too firm that it’s uncomfortable. You can wear this all day.
As proof of its effectiveness, it’s even recommended for people suffering from plantar fasciitis. Click Here to Check Out The Casual Orthotic Insoles at Amazon.com!
Footminders Catwalk Orthotic Insoles for High Heel Shoes
In this modern time and age, women are almost required to wear high heel shoes especially in the office. High heel shoes make women look sexier, more sophisticated, and more professional. Unfortunately, it comes at a huge price. It’s a pain. This is especially true if you have flat feet.
You don’t have to worry because there are specialized shoe inserts for flat feet and this one from Footminders is a great choice. The balls of your feet won’t suffer as much because the weight will be distributed evenly across your feet’s bottom part. In addition, it also offers metatarsal support plus added cushioning under the ball of your feet for more comfort and relief.
Unlike other models that slip downwards if you’re wearing high heel shoes, this one has a well-placed adhesive patch to prevent this from happening. It will also fit most high heel shoes because of its slim design.
As a bonus, it has a breathable cover that resists odor. This can also help keep your foot dry and cool. Click Here to Check Out The Catwalk Orthotic Insoles at Amazon.com!
Footminders Orthotic Insoles for Kids
Unfortunately, kids are among those suffering from pain brought upon by flat feet. Being kids, they’re very active and this is why it’s unfortunate that they have to suffer through pain. Fortunately, there are excellent orthotics for flat feet that are designed for kids.
If your kid is suffering from pain because of flat feet, you have to buy him or her this pair of orthotics from Footminders. They’re designed specifically for kids. They’re medical-grade so you know that they can really help. They can help correct over-pronation which will help prevent pain in the feet area and in the knees.
This pair will work with just about all types of footwear for kids. You don’t have to buy different pairs for different shoes. Your kid can wear it to school inside his or her school shoes. They can also be worn inside athletic shoes.
This product can also help active kids. This is because it has a deep heel cup that encourages stability. This is helpful if your kid is playing sports. It also has a firm but comfortable heel cushion. Add that to the fact that it’s designed to offer firm and comfortable support to the arch of your kid’s feet and he or she will thank you for it. Click Here to Check Out The Orthotic Insoles for Kids at Amazon.com!
Obviously, the whole family can benefit from the best insoles for flat feet manufactured by Footminders. Best of all, you don’t have to spend a lot of money. At the very least, they’re cheaper than custom made ones and one can argue that they’re even better than the customized ones.
Conclusion
If you are serious about eliminating all of the pain and discomfort that might be brought on by your flat feet, you’re going to want to look closely at all of the different orthotic insole options we’ve reviewed above.
Both Samurai Insoles and the folks at Footminders have created some pretty special solutions, each of which have been intelligently crafted to provide real and almost instant relief to anyone struggling with flat feet.
Of course, you’re always going to want to make sure that you are getting your hands on the very best flat foot inserts money can buy right now, and few people would argue that the Samurai Insoles are anything but the very best of the bunch.
Yes, they are a bit more expensive than the options provided by Footminders, but honestly they are worth every extra penny. They use high quality materials throughout, are intelligently designed to relieve pain while at the same time support your natural biomechanics when you walk, and will do a great deal to give you the kind of effortless relief you’re after. It really doesn’t get much better than the Samurai Insoles, that’s for sure.
