Flat foot or overpronation is a common condition that nearly affects 20-30% of the general population. Its symptoms may range from mild discomfort to considerable pain that can hamper your daily activities. Wearing the right pair of shoes can help a lot in this regard. Before discussing the tips for choosing the right pair of shoes for flat feet, let’s find out the causes, symptoms, and treatment.
Causes
Flat feet can occur both in children and adults. Some causes for the same are –
Injuries like muscle damage or ruptured tendons.
Repetitive high-impact activities like running, walking or standing.
Wearing poorly fitted shoes.
Suffering from health conditions like diabetes, stroke, or rheumatoid arthritis.
Risk factors like pregnancy or obesity.
Symptoms
The common symptoms of overpronation or flat foot include pain and discomfort. Sometimes you may also experience swelling in the inner bottom of the foot. If you lack the supportive arch, it can put undue pressure on other foot parts. This can hamper your movement and negatively impacts your posture. It might also lead to back and hip pain, sprains, and arthritis.
Treatment
Some simple conservative care solutions include –
Rest.
Over-the-counter insoles.
Pain medications.
Stretching exercises.
How to choose the right pair of shoes for flat feet?
Support reinforcement
Wearing the shoes with proper arch support can help in this case. You can consider getting womens slip on shoes with arch support made from good quality and ensure to get the pair with appropriate fitting. Additionally, you can replace the shoes having removable factory insoles with arch support insoles which are quite helpful. Experts do not recommend wearing flip-flops or high heels if you have flat feet.
Orthopedic shoes
If you fall under a severe case of flat foot, it is advisable to buy high-quality orthopedic shoes with steel shanks and hard-heel counters. Some reliable stores offer additional features with orthopedic shoes like orthotic insoles, still heel counters, and heel locking mechanisms. Buy these pairs only if you can tolerate stiffness. Otherwise, it will make things more complicated.
Stability running shoes
People having flat feet turn their ankles while running or walking. It puts strain on the ankles and knees, which can lead to an increase in the risk of injuries. You can consider purchasing excellent quality running shoes or the best cushioned walking shoes with the added stability to steer clear of overpronation or flat feet. It is found that cushioned shoes are breathable and lightweight. Moreover, they have synthetic upper that helps a lot to people with deformities like bunions or flat feet. Buying over-the-counter arch supports can also be considered to further protect yourself from overpronation.
To make a long story short
Finding the right pair of shoes is the key to reducing the pain and discomfort associated with flat feet. Don’t forget to look for the reviews of the shoes you have decided to buy. Keep the above-mentioned tips in mind to get the right pair of footwear and let this condition go far away from you.
