Thread: Flat-footed

Hey, I had a question about being flat-footed.

It seems that over time my feet have flattened out. I have been suffering from really bad shin splints when I run, which is the main problem with it.

I bought some running shoes yesterday and the salesperson suggested I put new soles in them; "orthotics" i think they're called. Anyway they raise the inside of my foot up a bit on the arch, and it alleviates most of the shin splint pain. It causes me to run more on the center, or outside of the foot, rather than the inside.

I had tried training my calves, and that alleviated the pain a little bit, but the new shoe insert helped the most. I haven't weight trained in a few weeks, but I've been running and doing a full-body bodyweight exercise regimen.

She also commented on how my legs look just a little bit bow-legged.... like the knees point inward a bit.

So now the question: Has anyone else suffered from this, or trained someone with this problem? Is it possible to train certain muscles to fix this deformity?

It seems like my abductors (muscles on the outside of my leg) flex when I try to "un-bow" my legs, so maybe that's a start? I also thought about squatting with the inserts in my shoes to sort of re-train my legs to fire the right way, but I'm not sure that's such a good idea...

So basically I'm just wondering if there is a way to fix this or if all I can do is wear sole inserts in my shoes. I'm sort of worried that this isn't fixing the problem and it may get worse. But maybe this is the best way?

Thanks.

Originally Posted by Double D

I went and got fitted for orthopedics, but still havent gotten the 350 bucks to buy the damn things! URGH, so much money for something. But eventually I will get em.

I am very flat-footed.

I could do and can do everything, that 'normal-footed people' can do, except run over 1 mile on a flat track. I was involved in all kinds of different team and individual sports growing up, without any problems.

Many doctors pushed orthopedics on me. I even tried them once. I did not notice a difference. Orthopedics are expensive and provide a high profit margin to the doctor.

If you feel you need them to train and/or do physically things in life, then go for them.

I am a bit skeptical.

(Everyone is different, of course.)