Do I need Orthotics? (Flat Feet/Collapsed Arch)

If you are wondering if you need orthotics for your flat feet or collapsed arches, the first question to ask yourself is, is your flat foot causing pain in the foot, ankles, knees, or hips? If the answer is no, then you probably don’t need any type of orthotics for your flat feet. The connective tissues and muscles of your body have been able to adapt to your regular weight-bearing needs.
If the answer is yes, then something needs to be done. One major consideration to take into account from working with different people is the cost of an orthotic. I often don’t recommend custom-made orthotics right away since it costs about 4 to 500 dollars to get one made, this is here in Canada. Not everyone is covered by insurance, and that is a lot of money to spend! Why spend those extra hundreds of dollars if you don’t need to?
Follow along in this video to see if you need orthotics or not!
1:37 How to tape your arch in your foot
Notice if this helps decrease the discomfort in your joints. If this does, then go ahead and purchase some off-the-shelf orthotics for flat feet. I generally like SuperFeet, I find that it is a good quality product and not very cumbersome. But, you can choose any brand you like. Try off-the-shelf orthotics for a few weeks and see if they work for you to decrease the pain and discomfort. If it does, then your problem is solved!
If the orthotic has decreased the pain but hasn’t taken it away, or those off-the-shelf ones didn’t do anything for you, then I would recommend seeing a physiotherapist and determine if you have any weakness or imbalance in your hips. Weak and unstable hips can cause your knees to fall inward resulting in you putting more pressure on the inside of your foot leading to a flat foot. Once you are able to obtain proper strength and control at the hips and knees, less pressure is placed on the inside of your foot.
If the strengthening still hasn’t fixed your pain, then I would lastly go for a custom-made orthotic.
Superfeet USA - amzn.to/45q73qv
#flatfeet #orthotics #pain#fallenarch#collapsedarch#customorthotic#pesplanus#overpronation