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The Pains of being Flat Footed

Flea'

Flea'

Bluelighter
Joined
Aug 7, 2001
Messages
1,177
Location
Sydney
For at least 5 years now, I've had flat feet. I've got really flat feet, virtually no arch at all.

Whenever I do hard work on my feet, namely... running & dancing. The arch in my feet burns up so badly, and my calves tighten up so much.

This usually keeps me off the dancefloors.

Up until... a few months ago, my answer to this was to roll, whenever I went out. That way I could dance the night away (or at least try too... *grins at anyone who may have another comment about this*)

Recently, wearing my trusty royals. I haven't had too many problems with this. Though when converting to my nike runners, they flare up almost instantly.

Looking at my shoes, my royals with their soles removed... have virtually no arch in them, which is why they're fine... i guess!

My nikes, have a huge arch, and im guessing this is why i get so much pain now.

I know orthotix (spelling?) are the first answer.. but i've tried them, and they didnt really seem to work for me...

My royals are really really really... worn out, and i need new shoes. I'm just worried about buying a pair, which will cause me so much pain.

Anyway, the main question is... has anyone else been blessed with flat feet, and if so... what were your ways around it??
 
I too am "blessed" with flat feet.

Really annoying...add to that whenever I walk up stairs or through sand my ankles "crack" and you have one set of fucked up feet ;)

I got around the problem by wearing my Duff skate shoes which are very comfortable and give me no troubles at all.

In fact I barely notice the flat feet since I have been wearing skate shoes. Athletic shoes are just asking for pain however.
 
I, too, am flat-footed - big-time. I know so much what it's like to have the pains!!! Hell - I used to have sore knees, and a clicky hip. Used to get it checked by doctors and all. Then someone told me to go to Athlete's foot. I went there, they pressure tested my feet, and decked me out with a pair of Brook's Beasts. :) Beasts are the shoe that poediatrists recommend to their flat-footed patients. I, too, totally recommend it. Since wearing them, I have had no probs, and can dance all night, and go for way long jogs without any soreness probs...!!! :D But as soon as I put on my old flat-soled sneakers, I get the soreness & clicky hip again!!! Yep - it is sooooooooooooo important to get fitted with the right shoe. It may cost a bit, but it is a much better option than forking out for podiatry & medical bills when you are older...!
 
Yeah I'm flat footed as well. its fucken awesome :\

for years I got used to rarely taking my shoes off because walking around barefooted meant when i lay down my back hurt. I got the in-soles for my shoes from the podiatrist a long time ago, and I have since grown a lot, and I haven't been back yet, so basically I'm probably wearing in-soles meant for someone about five years younger than me! In any case, they're still working to a certain degree, by the time I went to the podiatrist I was beyond the age of making the arch grow, so basically I think I'll hav to wear them for the rest of my life.

In contrast Flea, my royals are too thin for my feet and sometimes hurt a little :)

I do need to get my feet checked out though. Excessive dancing yields cuts on some of the sides of my toes where the toenails have dug in. This isn't because my toenails are long or sharp, just because of the in-soles and shit my feet tilt somewhat and the weight causes them to go a funny angle. Not good!
 
Yeah, i used to wear orthotics
meaning i have very flat feet
for some reason my back no longer hurts at all any more, neither does the arch
Theres a little rockport clearance place in fitzroy that has like half price royals
got mine there
awesome stuff, these royals
 
Thanks for the replys guys.

I had the insoles, but i gave up on them. Cause they just hurt me way too much.

I guess its a case of finding the right shoe. I wish the shoe shop would let me test drive it at a club for a night...

pity...
 
I have flat feet and ankles that roll in (and crack all the time). I use Orthoheel insoles, the half length ones. They cost about $40 (from pharmacies) and I find them really good. The arch on them isn't too huge as to cause any pain, just enough to provide some support. And they're reasonably soft too and quite comfy. I wear them with all my shoes without any problems. My ankle gets sore if i dont use them or walk barefoot for extended periods...

The shoes I wear are these Rockports I bought like 3 years ago. They are the most comfortable shoes I have bought and I wear them for dancing all nite long too... They have been to almost every party I have been to here and overseas, including Love Parade :) Its a pity that they're starting to fall apart, so now i'm on the hunt for a new pair too...
 
Ohhhh maaaan! Don't even get me started on the subject of flat feet. Ok, you did.

I've got to have the flatest feet in all of Victoria and goddamn it they have just about fallen apart now. I swear sometimes that my feet are that bad now that I might not be able to walk when I'm 40. I have to be soooo careful nowadays and I can only ever really dance on carpet floors. Anything hard and I might as well get out the sledgehammer and get it over and done with.
 
yeah, I have flat feet and ankles that roll in all the time as well. In fact my ankles give me so many freaking problems.
I found that even with most trainers I find it hard to walk on hard surfaces for a reasonable period of time which a pain in the ass as walking is one my prefered methods of getting around

Stupid feet.... :X
 
ok ok this is a topic i know a bit about. i've been working for about 2 and a half years at a certain athletic shoe retailer, which has been mentioned above, but which i will refrain from advertising further so nobody can accuse me of drumming up business. this chain of stores prides itself on well-trained staff who know how to treat common foot problems (like flat feet) by fitting the right shoes. this is really important for sports shoes, but imho dancing can get pretty strenuous and puts a lot of strain on the feet and legs so it doesn't hurt to have the right shoes (which are different depending on your individual problem). now, a few points:

- flat feet are VERY common, approximately 50% of the population have them (to varying degrees). The main consequence is over-pronation, or excessive rolling-in of the feet. your foot is designed to roll in to absorb shock when walking/running, but if you overpronate (roll in too much) it puts strain on the ligaments in the foot, and can also cause ankle, knee and even back pain.

- flat feet are commonly treated using orthotics, which are insoles with built-in arch support. they can be custom built by a podiatrist (foot doctor) or can be bought off the shelf. custom ones can be hideously expensive, up to $400-500 in some cases.

- if you don't need orthotics, or find them uncomfortable, or can't afford them, then shoes can correct much of the problem. The BEST ones for this include:
Brooks Beast (as mentioned above, a great shoe with massive support and good cushioning, my personal pick)
Asics Koji, 2080, Creed.
Brooks Addiction, Adrenaline.
New Balance 1122 (UGLY), 855.
Nike Air Structure Triax.
These are all running shoes, and not exactly fashion items, and are all quite expensive ($180-220). But i did say they were the best.
Fashion/casual/skate shoes are generally shithouse as far as foot function is concerned, so i generally wear more casual looking models from sporting brands as i find them more comfortable. but not everyone likes doing this. IMHO Royals are rubbish and i wouldn't touch them to set them on fire (they are made by Reebok which are also shabby - although so are Rockport and they are excellent).

- Basically you should look for shoes with a "medial post", harder material on the middle side of the midsole (the soft bit between the outsole and the upper). This is usually a grey foam insert which is of a higher density than the rest of the midsole, which doesn't compress as easily and slows down the pronation (rolling in). Other things to look for include: a strong heel counter (the bit that wraps around your heel), and the shoe should flex at the TOES, NOT in the middle. if you can easily bend your shoes in the middle they are not going to give you any support at all and will probably be shithouse for your feet.

- off-the-shelf orthotic insoles can be very helpful, we sell a lot of the Orthaheel brand, which cost $35-45 depending on the model. They sometimes take a short wearing-in period to get comfortable (they're pushing up on your foot in a way it's not used to), but can be very effective. Some people find them a bit hard though, and we also sell a different brand made of much softer material, which are more cushioned but give less support and cost about $50.

- if you've got real problems, then you need to see a podiatrist. for the person who got orthotics but doesn't wear them: did you wear them in properly (ie gradually)? sometimes they can be initially uncomfortable but improve. It is also possible that your podiatrist stuffed up, in which case you should go back and get them adjusted or replaced. Or go to a new pod.

- my store (and all the other franchise stores which are all around australia) also has "Fitprint" which is a computer hooked up to a pressure pad, which can show if you're an overpronator and helps us pick the right shoe for you. it's free to use, so you can get it done if you want, but PLEASE don't do it when it's busy unless you intend to buy shoes! we salespeople HATE being used by bastard customers who are wasting our time!

- if anyone needs advice about shoes feel free to email me and ask.

next question?
DQ.%)
 
^^ ooooooh knowledge.


If you ever in need of some jeans or acquiring denim-related wisdom I think I could just about sort you out ;)

will look into the Brooks shoes prolly tomorrow, thankee.
 
DQ said:
For the person who got orthotics but doesn't wear them: did you wear them in properly (ie gradually)? sometimes they can be initially uncomfortable but improve. It is also possible that your podiatrist stuffed up, in which case you should go back and get them adjusted or replaced. Or go to a new pod.
Click to expand...

I got them, I wore them in gradually, Tried this for. At least a few weeks, (3-4?)

I found they ended up hurting more, from day to day, and when it came time to really use my feet. Ie: walk lots, play sport, go out.

They abso-fucking-lutely killed!

Looking at my current shoes (royals), I took the sole out of them, I think anyway... well I cant take anything out of the shoe right now. The arch in the shoe is very minimal. Comparing it to my pair of Nikes. The arch in that shoe is HUGE.

My main concern is that wearing these shoes, day in day out, clubbing, and what not...

I've gotten pretty accustomed to wearing something with no arch support, and by buying anything with arch support, that presses up against my arch.

I'll be in a world of pain, the moment i hit the dancefloor....

that possible? I'll have to stop by that certain shop, and ask
 
^ WERD!

I wore orthotics all the time from the age of 15-26. The podiatrist didn't tell me that I should only wear them on a part-time basis. After ELEVEN years of wear them, my calf muscles are weak in relation to the rest of my thighs. This was despite regular exercise.

Orthotics just give adults false hope. They have some correctional merit for people who are still growing, but once you stop growing, for god's sake... do not get dependant on them.
 
FARK!!!!!!

I have the opposite to you guys, my arch is too high! And by the sounds of it i get all the same problems as you!
I thought there was nothing i could do about it but I think that i'll go to Athlete's Foot and get my feeties pressure tested!
 
*gasps*

she said it...

Also DQ is working in a shoe store as bad as Al Bundy would have you believe?

I imagine dealing with some backpackers skanky, unwashed digits after a big night out is something that would trigger my "quit reflex" ;)

But you might just be a stronger soul than I.
 
Checked out many a shoe store in Eastgardens, Pagewood...

Failed on all accounts!! Majority of shoes sold seemed to be skater shoes... I went late, and by the time i reached "the shop", it had closed...

another day i guess !!


My brother also had the same problem as me, though. He managed to push through it! He still played heaps of basketball and did lots of stuff, he wore the orthotics, growing up but he got rid of them when he went to uni.

He's more than fine now, his theory is that he's just destroyed the arch completely, and now he's all good. lol, dont know if theres any fact behind that...

He is a doctor though... but feet isnt his primary field
 
Me feet flat too, had orthotics from 10-18 then took em out and while i've sprained my ankles and knees to the shithouse from basketball and taekwondo, but i've never really noticed any pain from having flat feet. Maby from dancing all night when my calves hurt like buggery but i'd put that down to my exuberant dancing style and drug use than flat feet. Also used to hate how having orthotics limited your choice on footwear!
 
yeah the comment that some people with flat feet find shoes with high arches uncomfortable is a common one. as a result most quality sports shoes are designed with a relatively flat insole, to accomodate the comfort needs of a wider range of people ;) the shoes give support by other means, ie: having a strong heel counter and a medial post in the midsole. that's what you should look for, NOT a built-up arch.

note that generally Nikes are shit as far as providing support goes. they have only a handful of decent shoes in this regard (Structure Triax, Kantara, Base).

Orthotics just give adults false hope. They have some correctional merit for people who are still growing, but once you stop growing, for god's sake... do not get dependant on them.
Click to expand...
some people NEED orthotics and it's not because they've become dependant through years of wear, they have structural problems in their feet/legs which cause pain and increase risk of injury. i've had heaps of adult customers who swear orthotics have improved things for them. i recommend anyone with foot problems and often knee problems see a podiatrist cos they are the professionals. that said, sometimes they stuff up. get a second opinion.

on the other hand, *High* arches demand extra cushioning, because the higher the arch generally the less the foot is able to naturally absorb shock.

also the feet thing is not too yuck. except for the occasional filthy bastard most people's feet are ok.
 
mr DQ, I have a question which you probably can't answer but since such a high percentage of the popualtion have flat feet why aren't more shoes made to help people with flat feet.

trying to find sandals/thongs for me is a hassle though as I'm really not too fond of trainers in summer :\
 
praetorian said:
I have flat feet and ankles that roll in (and crack all the time). I use Orthoheel insoles, the half length ones. They cost about $40 (from pharmacies) and I find them really good. The arch on them isn't too huge as to cause any pain, just enough to provide some support. And they're reasonably soft too and quite comfy. I wear them with all my shoes without any problems. My ankle gets sore if i dont use them or walk barefoot for extended periods...
Click to expand...

rockport clearance store in fitzroy, melb ;]

and its always better to get custom orthotics from your podiatrist
 
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