Flat Feet

A normal foot has three arches.  When the medial arch weakens, the foot flattens out and is commonly called a flat foot.  The more correct term is that the foot is pronated.  Because the foot is the foundation of the body's posture, when the foot is pronated it results in problems throughout the body.

Without the normal, flexible arches the foot is unable to push off properly when walking.  The result is an abnormal twisting of the foot.  This sets off a chain reaction that stresses the knees, hips, and low back.  The result can be pain and dysfunction in any of these areas.  People with pronated feet also fatigue more easily, they have more problems walking and athletic performance is hampered because it takes more energy when the foot doesn't work properly.

Way back in 1988 researchers, Otman S., et al., studied a number of women with flat feet.  Those that had their feet supported with custom orthotics had improved foot mechanics over the control group.  The researchers looked at more than just foot mechanics.  Very interestingly the ladies with the orthotic corrections consumed less oxygen, had lower blood pressure and lower heart rates both during and after walking!  Their calculated energy consumption was much lower than the women who did not have correction for their pronated feet.

This is a perfect example of how interconnected the body is.  Pronated feet don't just give you sore feet.  They can be the cause of knee, hip or low back pain.  More significantly, they can cause your entire body to work less efficiently.  Loss of stamina and productivity can result.  Quality, custom orthotics can correct the foot's mechanics and help the entire body work much more effectively.

If you read my post "I Don't Have a Foot Fetish" you may recall that I look at the feet in order to determine functional leg length difference.  While looking at the feet I also look for how the patient's shoes are wearing.  There are telltale signs of foot pronation or flat feet.  This can certainly be a complicating factor in not only pain a person may be experiencing but also their overall health.  Supporting the normal arches of the foot can have a huge impact on a person's well being.