This video discusses the condition called flat feet. There are a lot of myths surrounding flat feet, and in this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, addresses each of these myths and compares and contrasts conventional podiatric treatments with natural, conservative treatment methods. Dr. Ray notes that having flat feet is not necessarily an indication that foot problems (or other lower body joint problems) will develop; in fact, the height of the foot arch is no longer considered to be a predictor of disability.
Conventional care for flat feet usually involves an orthotic device to prop up the arch, whereas a natural, conservative approach involves using footwear that's completely flat from heel to toe and is widest at the ends of the toes to allow the foot arch to function optimally (by recruiting the foot's natural suspension system). This video also touches on the topics of heel elevation, toe spring, and tapering toe boxes, describing how these common shoe design features can lead to flat feet.
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The above content is for educational or informational purposes only and is not intended to replace or augment professional medical instruction, diagnosis, or treatment. Read full disclaimer here.
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Flat feet, also known as pes valgus or pes planovalgus, is a health problem in which the foot lacks a normal arch when the affected person is standing. The arch on the foot’s inside edge (i.e., medial longitudinal arch) is the structure affected by this condition. The entire foot, including the midfoot, will touch the floor in individuals with flat feet. Flat feet is usually a painless condition, and it...
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If you look at the foot of a young child, you will notice that his or her toes are spaced well apart. The foot of a young child is naturally designed for optimal balance and gait, and if the foot maintains this shape, optimal stride is preserved through old age: a finding observed in barefoot populations the world over. In industrialized societies, however, people spend a lifetime wearing shoes with...
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I appreciate this information about flat feet. Do you think severe pronation is correctable with exercise?
Hi, Christine,
Thanks for your question. In our experience, we’ve found that a combination of foot exercises and natural footgear can be quite helpful in correcting excessive pronation (www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/education/17914692-shoe-liner-test-pronation-explained). Realigning the big toe to its normal anatomical position is essential in eliminating overpronation and encourages natural arch support (www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/education/17920972-what-is-natural-arch-support).
Correct Toes (www.naturalfootgear.com/products/correct-toes) is an invaluable foot health tool for this purpose. And getting into men’s (www.naturalfootgear.com/collections/mens-shoes) or women’s (www.naturalfootgear.com/collections/womens-shoes) footwear that is completely flat from heel to toe and possesses a toe box that allows for natural toe splay can be quite helpful for a lot of people in restoring foot strength and arch stability (even for those individuals with a low arch).
One stretch that can also help with the overpronation issue is the Big Toe Stretch (www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/education/17856416-big-toe-stretch).
I hope this info helps!
Kind regards,
Marty Hughes, DC