Click here for information on flat feet
Home remedies for flat feet and over-pronation
When treating flat foot, (sometimes called fallen arches or pronation) you are often not treating the flat foot itself, but rather, the symptoms caused by flat foot. So if you have any of the following problems that are often associated with a flat foot, you can use the links below to find self treatment page for each condition.
The key to treating flat feet is to:
7-Step Home Treatment Plan for Flat Feet
We’ve listed below some of the best over-the-counter arch supports, braces and shoes for flat feet. Be aware, however, that flat feet (especially VERY flat feet) often need more support than that provided by prefabricated arch supports. These OTC products are often worth trying, but those with very flat feet and severe pronation often require a custom orthotic. So, try the following for three weeks. If that doesn’t work, see a podiatrist with expertise in orthotic therapy.
Use an arch support in your shoes. This will act to transfer force off of the ball of your foot. OTC arch supports will not work as well as a quality custom orthotic, but will help. The best that we have found for flat feet is the
Powerstep Medical Grade Orthotic.
For Women’s dress shoes and boots, use
Orthaheel slimfit orthotic. These are the best OTC orthotics for high heels, dress boots and other women’s dress shoes. Great for flat footed women who wear dress shoes
Instead of slippers, use a sandal with an arch support to wear around the house. This will act to support your arch when you are not wearing shoes. We recommend the
Orthaheel Arch Support Flip-Flops for its superior arch support.
For times you cannot wear shoes (for example when doing Yoga, ballet or other barefoot or minimal shoe activities) use
Dr. Roth’s FAB Arch Supports. The compressive, self-adjusting strap wraps around the foot, supporting the weakened arch. Can be worn while barefoot or in minimal shoes.
For Severe flat foot: Severe flatfoot often requires much more support than a prefabricated arch support can provide. If your feet are severely flat, you will eventually need a custom orthotic. If you cannot get custom orthotics right away, the
AirLift PTTD Ankle Brace is made especially for the treatment of severe flat foot including flat feet associated with posterior tibialis dysfunction.
Use shoes with excellent support features. You can find a list of Seattle area shoe stores on our Shoe List. If you don’t have a good shoe store nearby, these
Orthofeet Shoes for Women and
Orthofeet Shoes for Men provide great support for flat feet.
Strengthen the Arch: Strengthening your arch won’t give you a higher arch, but it can help reduce pain associated with flat feet. The most effective exercises for the arch of the foot are to do one-leg balance exercises. Start on the floor. When you can stand on one foot on the floor for 30 seconds, start doing it on a
wobble board.
WEBSITE DISCLAIMER
For website errors ONLY email webmaster at
WEBMASTER
All pages on this website © 2005-2010
Douglas Hale, DPM & Lawrence Huppin, DPM
Foot and Ankle Center of Washington, Seattle
The material provided on this web site is for informative purposes only.
If you need specific medical advice, please contact the office for an appointment.
