By Rehan Iqbal
Flat feet can be very painful, and they can cause aches and pains throughout your body. Fortunately, the problems caused by flat feet can often be entirely resolved by simply choosing the right type of shoes. You may think that supportive shoes must, by definition, be ugly and clunky; however, this isn't the case. In this article, we provide smart tips to help you source just the right shoes to ease the discomfort of flat feet without sacrificing style entirely. Read on to learn more.
Look For Shoes With Solid Support Along The Inner Sole
Remember that flat feet tend to roll inward. This is called overpronation, and it compromises your arches’ ability to absorb shock. This causes stress on the feet, ankles, knees, hips and lower back. Wearing shoes that provide firm support to the arches and inner side of the foot can address this problem and provide a great deal of comfort and stability.
Here are five ideas to help you keep your flat feet comfortable :-
- If you have very severe flat feet, you may need to wear orthopedic shoes which come equipped with steel shanks and hard heel counters to provide extra firm support. This is especially true if you have a job that keeps you on your feet for long hours.
It's a good idea to have this type of no-nonsense shoe available for times when you need it. Even though these shoes are not especially attractive, they can keep your feet and your entire body comfortable at the most challenging times so that you can enjoy wearing less serious shoes at your leisure.
- There are many ordinary casual shoes that that may be just fine for flat feet. Look for well-made casual shoes that come equipped with arch support insoles and a firm heel counter. It's especially helpful to find shoes with removable soles that can be replaced with over-the-counter shoe insoles as needed.
- Try stability running shoes for both running and every day wear. Stability running shoes have firm arch supports that help straighten your ankles and prevent over pronation.
These attractive shoes are usually light weight and very nicely cushioned for all over comfort. Furthermore, the uppers are usually soft synthetic material that molds nicely around the types of foot deformities that tend to develop with flat feet (e.g. hammer toes and bunions).
Stability running shoes are good looking and make a nice every day choice for work or play.
- Motion control running shoes can help with very serious cases of flat footedness. These shoes are a step up from stability running shoes. They provide a great deal of control and support along the inner sole of the shoe.
Motion control shoes are made specifically to help keep your ankles straight while you are walking or running. The arch side of the sole is usually made of very sturdy, dual density foam that holds your foot firmly in place.
These shoes, like stability running shoes, are attractively made and can be used for every day wear as well as for exercise.
- Arch support sandals can be good house shoes, but they are not a good choice for times when you need to be on your feet for an extended period of time. For example, you would not want wear these shoes to run errands or to go for walks or to go to work. While they provide a comforting amount of support for your arch, they lack the structure necessary to provide stability.
How Do You Shop for Shoes for Flat Feet?
When looking for comfortable, attractive shoes that will provide the right amount of support for your flat feet, remember these six handy tips:
- Go shoe shopping in the afternoon or early evening. Remember that your feet will tend to swell throughout the day. It's best to shop for new shoes when your feet are at their largest whether you have flat feet or not.
- Try on both shoes. Most people have one foot bigger than the other. If you accidentally only try one shoe on your smaller foot, your larger foot is bound to be unhappy.
- Don't go only by size! Sizes vary from one brand of shoe to another, and if you are a woman who sometimes wears men’s shoes remember that men's shoes will be two sizes smaller than your regular ladies’ size. That is, if you wear a size 9 in a woman’s shoe, you will wear a size 7 in a men's shoe. Don't be too stuck on sizes, instead try the shoes on and choose the ones that feel the best.
- Be sure to wear the socks that you usually wear when trying on shoes. If you plan on wearing thick socks with the shoes you are purchasing, wear thick socks when you try them on.
- Press down on the toe of the shoe with the width of your thumb and make sure that there is at least a thumb’s width of space at the end of the toe. When you have flat feet, you want shoes with a nice roomy toe box to accommodate problems such as hammer toes and bunions.
- Wear your new shoes around the house and yard for a few days before you set out on a long walk. No matter how comfortable your new shoes are, they'll take a little getting used to. If the first time you wear them is for a challenging hike, you're bound to be uncomfortable.
Smart Shopping is a Smart Solution
In addition to simply finding supportive shoes that fit you well, you may also wish to add stretching and exercise routines to your flat foot care. These can be very helpful in strengthening your feet, but without properly fitted shoes, these activities will all be for naught. Smart shopping for the right shoes is the best first step toward successfully dealing with flat feet.
