The wrong shoes on flat feet can be painful. Flat feet, or pes planus, occurs when the arch or instep of your foot collapses and meets the ground. Everyone is born with flat feet, but most people develop arches by age three. Some children never develop these arches, and some people lose their arches in their 60s or 70s. The right shoes cannot cure flat feet, but they may help you get through the day pain-free.
Diagnosis
Your doctor can diagnose pes planus with a simple examination, but must also determine the cause to treat the condition. Your doctor will have you stand on your toes to see if an arch develops. If the arch develops, you have flexible flat feet and you will require no further tests or treatments. If the arch does not develop, your doctor will request X-rays. Your doctor will also check for a shortened Achilles tendon -- a band of tissue running down the back of the lower leg and connecting to your calf muscle and heel bone, which helps raise your heel off the ground.
New shoes will not help if you are diagnosed with a tarsal coalition, meaning that two bones in the back of your foot are abnormally connected. A tarsal coalition may require a cast or surgery. Supportive shoes and at-home treatment can help flat feet caused by posterior tibial tendon problems. Located in your lower leg, the posterior tibial tendon's job is to hold up your arch and provide support as you step off and on your toes when walking.
Children
Most children with flat feet do not need special shoes. If your child has flat feet, his foot development will be the same with or without arch supports. However, to keep the shoes on his feet better, he may need high-top shoes or special orthopedic shoes. If your child's flat feet cause him pain, your doctor may recommend wedges or a heel cup or have your child fitted for a full shoe insert.
Adults
An arch-supporting shoe insert called an orthotic can help relieve foot pain from flat feet. For walking shoes, buy shoes labeled as "straight last" and "motion control." Both features help stabilize your feet. The "last" refers to the shape and mold of the shoe; a straight last helps control inward motion. When working out, wear cross-training or tennis shoes rather than running shoes. When you walk, you should land on your heels first, so your body weight passes from the arch to the outside of the foot, and then to the ball of your foot. If your feet roll inward when walking or running, you need stabilizing shoes labeled for over-pronated feet.
Tips
An athletic shoe store or a medical shoe store will offer a better selection of shoes designed for flat feet. Your feet can change sizes throughout the day, so shop for your new shoes later in the day, when your feet are at their most swollen. Measure both feet; if one foot is bigger than the other foot, use your larger foot as your shoe size to ensure adequate room in the shoes. You should have at least ½ inch of space between your longest toe and the tip of the shoe. For the width, the shoe should feel snug, but not tight.
Treatment
In addition to wearing the right shoes for flat feet, you may be able to alleviate your pain by stretching, if you have a shortened Achilles tendon. Your doctor can recommend exercises to stretch your Achilles tendon. If you are overweight, losing weight may help your pain. If your pain becomes too severe, you may have stay off your feet and take over-the-counter pain relievers.
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