Thanks for posting your question – it’s a really interesting one and something I am sure that is shared by many others. As Dr Sean has mentioned, flat feet are common, but they should not necessarily be regarded as a “problem” per se. If you look at most Asian patients, low arches are the norm.
There is often a line of thought that flat feet are the root of all pain and injuries. In fact, pain can be attributed to different factors such as:
- Your chosen activity
- Your training load
- Overall strength
- Whether any equipment you are using is appropriate for you.
These are but a few factors, and many more can be elicited from a thorough assessment. Equally, heel pain can be due to:
- Plantar fasciitis
- An ankle tendon issue
- Or even a bony injury
Seeing a podiatrist might be a good first step (please forgive the pun), but it may not be your feet causing the symptoms. Insoles can range from off the shelf ones for $80, to custom made ones in the region of $400+.
I think you should look into the options and perhaps think about how and when the symptoms came on. It’s likely that you have had low arches/flat feet for several years, and hence it’s contribution to your symptoms must be taken in the context of the bigger picture.
BW