Flat feet/Insoles

[Tom Cruise]

So I have always thought I had flat feet just looking at them, but never got it checked out because it never gave me any major problems. Last few years though I have had a few aches and pains in my feet and knees, especially when running.

Kinda thinking that my flat feet have started to take their toll. I went to a place which analyses your gait and tells you what running shoes to buy and they just recommended neutral ones as opposed to pronated ones, which wasn't what I expected. Sure enough 4 runs in and I'm already getting a lot of pain through the inside of my knees.

Basically just wondering if anyone else has had similar issues? Have you used any particular type of insole or other method to help? Does it work?

Im not getting a new pair of trainers because I just spent loads of money on these ones and last time I checked my last name isnt Rockafella

[Commie]

See a doctor

[tcbender]

I have flat fee which would cause some minor issues. I wore "Sof Sole Airr Performance Insole" in my old boxing shoes (I got some new adidas ones that I dont use an insole in), and I wear the Adidas cloudfoam ultimate for running/lifting (priced pretty well on amazon). I think if you have prime you can get 25% off the cloudfoam ultimates right now. They're the most comfortable shoe I've maybe ever worn.

Make sure you're running dynamics are correct. Slightly leaned forward, don't take too big of strides, and don't land with or on your heels.

[Eastbound]

Running is very high impact on the knees as you are probably aware...especially if you are landing on the heel when you run. If you can, land on the balls of your feet, then the rest of your foot, ankle and tendons act as a shock absorber. Check out the book Born to Run by Chris Mcdougal for a in depth analysis of this. That said, I truly believe jumping rope is much better for your knees, as you're on your toes the whole time, and it is much less impact. You can also run on a track, grass or cinders to reduce impact.

[Redd Foxx]

That's a tough one. I have a perfect arch and I get problems when I use shoes with an arch added. However, my wife is a runner with terribly flat feet and she's gone through a number of problems. Here's what I've learned;

-She had expensive custom orthotics made for her and they got rid of pain when she was standing/walking all day.

-Running on the orthotics caused pain because she was now heel-striking. For running, you don't want to rely on the cushioning to take the strike as this actually ***s you up in other ways.

-Running in minimalist shoes got rid of these issues because it forced her to land on the ball of her feet.

Whatever you end up doing, start slow as changing the way you use your legs/feet will change the muscles you're using and can start to stress your tendons as you adapt. You may suddenly get shin splints, or the opposite, calf pain. I'd try a shoe (or just an insert) that offers a bit of support and make sure you're landing correctly. See where you're at after 6 months.

[Omegamanic]

So I have always thought I had flat feet just looking at them, but never got it checked out because it never gave me any major problems. Last few years though I have had a few aches and pains in my feet and knees, especially when running.

Kinda thinking that my flat feet have started to take their toll. I went to a place which analyses your gait and tells you what running shoes to buy and they just recommended neutral ones as opposed to pronated ones, which wasn't what I expected. Sure enough 4 runs in and I'm already getting a lot of pain through the inside of my knees.

Basically just wondering if anyone else has had similar issues with flatfoot insoles? Have you used any particular type of insole or other method to help? Does it work?

Im not getting a new pair of trainers because I just spent loads of money on these ones and last time I checked my last name isnt Rockafella

Hi, I unfortunately have been gifted with flat feet that has always caused trouble for me when skiing (15+ years) I sometimes suffer from pain on the outside part of my feet normally after a few hours on the hill. Current ski boots have custom moulded insole. Since these where moulded to my feet they don't have much of an Arch and are quite flat. They definitely reduce pain from the stock standard insoles but are not perfect. I also worry that they are putting my alignment out because of not much arch? Other road to go down is to change to a foot bed with lot more arch support. I have orthotic in my running shoes with arch support that feel comfortable but am concerned that putting these in Ski boots will cause more pressure onto the outside of my foot from the angle. Question really is, should I get foot beds with prominent Arch support (like my orthotics) or stick the current ones with not much arch support? Anyone else in the same situation?