Do Flat Feet Always Need to Be Corrected?

Key points in 30 seconds

1. Even with flat feet, if there's no discomfort, we don't intervene.
2. What we go by is recurring discomfort, not foot shape.
3. Arches that are too high cause similar problems.
4. Correction doesn't change the shape of the bones. What counts is how far you can walk.
5. If one arch suddenly sinks in adulthood, it needs to be checked separately.

What we often hear

• "I was told I have flat feet. Do they have to be fixed?"
• "They don't hurt now, but could they become a problem later?"
• "My child has flat feet, and I'm worried."

Do flat feet always need to be corrected?

No. Many people have flat feet and no discomfort at all. If it doesn't hurt and doesn't get in the way of walking, we don't intervene.

We don't recommend treatment just because your feet are shaped differently from other people's. What we go by is discomfort, not shape. If we don't hold to this line, we end up giving treatment that isn't needed.

So when do you intervene?

When there's recurring pain in the feet, knees, or back, when it's hard to walk for long, or when one shoe wears out noticeably faster than the other. We look when there's discomfort.

Children are a bit different. While young, the arch is still forming, so there's a stage when the feet look flat. If it stays the same after that stage, or your child dislikes walking for long or falls often, it's better to have it checked once.

Can arches that are too high be a problem too?

Yes. When the arch is too high, the foot can't absorb shock when walking, and body weight lands only on the outer edge of the foot.

It's easy to think only flat feet are a problem, but there's the other side too. A high-arched foot has a small area touching the ground, so force piles up in the same spots. Calluses form there, and people may often sprain their ankles.

Will correction give me an arch?

The shape of the bones themselves doesn't change. What changes is where your weight passes when you walk on that foot, and the muscles that support it.

We want to make this distinction clear. We don't say "your flat feet will go away." The goal is less pain even with a low arch, and less fatigue even when walking for a long time. What counts is how far you can walk, more than the shape seen in images.

What are the limits of this judgment?

There's no sure way to tell whether flat feet are the cause of pain. Of two people with the same foot shape, one hurts and the other is fine.

One more thing. If one arch suddenly sinks in adulthood, a tendon may have been damaged, so it needs to be checked separately. If a child's feet hurt or their calf muscles are very stiff, it could be another condition, so that check comes first.

We don't correct every flat foot. If it doesn't hurt and doesn't get in the way of walking, watching it is also an answer.

If you're worried about flat feet, come in and get measured. We'll sort out when something needs to be done and when it doesn't.

Even with the same foot shape, the degree of discomfort varies greatly from person to person.