Successful Weight Loss

The Benefits Of Using Insoles For Flat Feet

By Rosella Campbell


Podiatrists agree that the most common problem that they have to deal with is painful feet that are almost always caused by the wearing of the wrong type of shoe. Another very common condition is fallen arches. People suffering from this condition have no instep, or arch. This is the part of the foot that is raised when standing up. In many cases insoles for flat feet can remedy the situation.

People with fallen arches experience a range of symptoms. In extreme cases they may experience constant pain. They also find it difficult to stand on their toes and if they are forced to stand up for long periods they can also experience swelling of the ankles and acute lower back pain. Their shoes wear down unevenly and often collapse toward the inside of the foot.

The bad news is that this condition cannot be cured, not even by means of surgery. Podiatrists commonly advise that sufferers wear special inserts in their shoes. These inserts are specially designed to support the arches. Most patients find that these devices relieve most of the symptoms. In special cases, for example where the shape of the foot is awkward, custom made soles can be ordered.

The fact that the condition cannot be cured does not mean that there is nothing sufferers can do to lessen the adverse effects of the symptoms. Podiatrists advise that patients should try and walk barefoot whenever they can. It is also recommended to run on the toes and to perform stretch exercises such as stretching the toes as wide as possible. All these exercises help to strengthen the ligaments and tendons in the foot.

In some extremely rare cases surgery is attempted to try and restore the arches. An artificial insert is placed in the bones of the ankle. However, many experts warn that this surgery is dangerous and that a failure will mean that the patient will suffer constant pain over the long term. There is even a danger that the foot may become deformed.

Arches can drop for a variety of reasons. All babies are born without arches, which develop later on, but in some cases they simply do not develop at all. Older people often develop dropped arches if the tendons in the ankle become weak. If the tendons become inflamed due to a physical foot or ankle injury the arches can also drop. Many obese people develop this condition.

It is interesting to note that the inserts worn by people with dropped arches can also help those with healthy arches to prevent them from dropping. Obese people should seriously consider losing weight, as obesity is one of the main causes of this complaint. Another major cause is the constant wearing of high heels. In fact, podiatrists agree that high heels are the direct cause of most foot problems experienced by women.

Wearing special shoe inserts designed to support the arches is risk free and is even beneficial for those not suffering from dropped arches. These inserts are economical because the can be transferred between different pairs of shoes. Pain and discomfort can be avoided by performing special exercises regularly and by avoiding situations where it is necessary to stand for long periods.




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