At Old Friend Footwear, people often tell us they have flat feet and need a little extra arch support. While it’s a common term, do you know what “flat feet” means? Do you even know if you have flat feet?
About 25 percent of Americans have the condition commonly known as flat feet. A flat foot means the arch of the foot collapses, so the entire sole of the foot comes into complete (or near-complete) contact with the ground.
If you think you have flat feet, there’s a simple at-home test you can do. Get the bottom of your feet wet and step onto a smooth, level surface, such as concrete. Try putting down a heavy piece of paper or cardboard so you can see your footprint better.
The more the sole of the foot makes contact with the ground, the flatter your feet are. With a normal footprint, or a foot with a normal to high arch, the inner edge of the bottom of the foot will not be seen.
Some people are born with flat feet. The arch simply never develops in one foot or both feet. So the condition can be hereditary. Others develop flat feet. A falling arch can occur from an injury, illness (such as diabetes), stress to the foot or aging. Shoes that don’t provide proper arch support can cause a falling arch. Flat feet also can occur temporarily in pregnant women as a result of changes during the pregnancy.
More about flat feet in an upcoming blog post.
