Arches are a normal part of your feet’s anatomy. However, some people’s arches don’t fully develop during childhood, or they can collapse during adulthood. These phenomena can cause flat feet.
Pain is not always associated with flat feet, but it can be a common symptom, mainly because the condition can alter the alignment of your legs. For those who do feel pain due to having flat feet, it is often found in the ankles and knees. According to research, some knee pain is directly associated with flat feet and collapsed arches.
What can you do about flat feet and knee pain?
Without intact arches, a person’s body weight can be distributed unevenly. This can cause joints like the knees to overcompensate and become strained over time. Thankfully, flat feet symptoms like knee pain can be treated through a variety of methods, including:
- Stretches and joint exercises — The tissue surrounding the bottom of flat feet can become weak due to misalignment and overuse. Specific exercises can help strengthen the area around the soles of the feet, support healthy arches and encourage proper alignment. Helpful exercises can include rolling the ankle in circles as well as up and down. Doing so can help strengthen both the ankle and calf muscles, relieving pressure from the knees.
- Soft tissue mobilization — For those with flat feet, the area surrounding the arches can become tightened, inflamed and swollen. In order to release tension, patients can use a ball to roll out the bottom of their feet. Doing so can mobilize the tissue around their arches, increase blood flow to the area and release tension in the knees.
- Orthotics — Orthotics can be slipped inside a shoe to provide arch support while walking. Orthotics-based arch support can help train the feet into proper alignment, reduce stress on the rest of the body and realign the knees. Research shows that treating flat feet with orthotics can help prevent and treat related knee pain and cartilage damage.
Biocorrect can help you ease knee pain due to flat feet
Are you experiencing knee pain due to flat feet? Biocorrect’s custom orthotics can help realign your legs, reduce swelling and minimize pain while walking. Contact us to learn more about the orthotics we offer or to set up an initial evaluation with one of our certified pedorthists.
