The Case of the Fallen Arches: What’s The Best Shoes for Flat Feet?

The search is still apparently on. Some circles in the world of fallen arches are still in a deep search as to which shoes will suit and provide comfort to their oftentimes painful undertaking. The struggle is real and understandable as there are a multitude of shoe types out there and that alone can confound a lot. And that just doesn’t sound and feel good if you’re already experiencing tired and swollen feet. But as this particular dilemma can be remedied, allow me to guide you through this journey as I impart you some of my collated, and trusted information.

Free your feet from this unrelenting pain with some of these best shoes for flat feet. But before we look into these shoe types, let’s dabble on the curious case of the fallen arches first:

The Not-So-Curious Case of the Fallen Arches: What Are They and What’s Causing Them?

Flat feet or fallen arches entail that the arches of your feet are low or that there is not a presence of arches in them. But just what causes them, you ask? The causes of fallen arches include issues with foot bones that have been developed right before your birth and the loosened connective tissues from conditions such as joint hyper-mobility syndrome. This condition can also be caused by muscle or nerve issues along with injury or damage to connective tissues due to aging and obesity.

Ultimately, sporting shoes that don’t feature supportive features can also be blamed for experiencing flat-footedness.

Meanwhile, certain symptoms can be watched out for that are generally indicative that you may be experiencing from this condition. They include ankle and foot pain; also, pain from your knees, hips, legs, and back is also deemed as a symptom.

If your feet are feeling weak or are numb or stiff, you might also want to have them checked by a doctor. Perhaps the more common symptoms of flat-footedness are when your feet are pointing inwards (otherwise known as over-pronation) which may lead to other injuries as well. Meanwhile, if your shoes are wearing out much sooner that you’d expect, there might be a chance that you’re already experiencing this condition.

Three Types of Shoes For Flat Feet According to Podiatrists

1.)            Support Shoes

People who are struggling from fallen arches should never wear shoes that come without support. These include high heels, flip flops, and sandals – they should be veered away from as they don’t provide your arches any kind of lift.

Meanwhile, when you’re looking for shoes that come with “support” features, go for ones that have “added support” affixed on their tags. This would mean that these shoes are meeting the standards to provide normal arching.

2.)            Stability Shoes

Flat-footedness causes your feet to pronate, and at times, turn your ankle inwardly when you either run or walk. This leads to stress on your ankles, along with your knees and feet that may bring about certain injuries. On the other hand, these normal arches are necessary as they aid people on maintaining a pair of feet with “straight landing.” But without proper arching, shoes which feature stability control should be able to have this pronation corrected. Today, almost all brands of walking, running, and even cross-training shoes come with offerings on shoes with stability features.

3.)            Motion Control Shoes

Meanwhile, there are those who come with severe pronators. And in their cases, the use of motion control shoes is demanded. Considered an upgrade over stability shoes, motion control shoes come with more control and additional support which both keep your ankles straight right when they move forward.

On the other hand, motion control shoes have a working technology in which footwear makers infuse a compound that is touted as a much harder type of foam. This foam is situated below the arch’s medial side and is at times extended all the way to your heel. This piece of foam comes with a hue of darker gray and is also found in the midsole.

Concluding Thoughts

When choosing the right shoes for your fallen arches, it’s vital as it is important first that you determine that you’re indeed experiencing flat-footedness. Say, if a podiatrist or your doctor has already confirmed it, you have to base your selection depending on the level or severity of your condition. Once that is ascertained, it’s suggested that you conduct a “trial and error” with these shoe types right until you find the best pair for your current condition.

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Author Bio:

Emily is founder of BodyShape101.com, a blog where she and her associates talk about exercise, fitness, and yoga. Their aim is to help people like you to achieve perfect body. BodyShape101 is concentrated on exercise & fitness tips, and making the most out of it. She is also a mother of one and she tries to find balance between her passion and her biggest joy in life.