What should I do for flat foot problem causing heel pain and back pain?

Doctor's Answer

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:

  1. Your chosen activity
  2. Your training load
  3. Overall strength
  4. 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:

  1. Plantar fasciitis
  2. An ankle tendon issue
  3. 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

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