Hip (and trunk) weakness fails to hold the leg in a healthy, relatively outwardly rotated position and also fails to resist internal rotation. The leg usually de-rotates when compensating for a few covert issues.Īnkle and hip stiffness force the leg to find an alternate path to move. In short, the majority of flat feet are a consequence of this internal rotation of the leg. Similarly, if you let go and let your legs rotate inwards your arches will collapse. As you see the entire leg rotate out (feet still straight) your arches will pull up.

Imagine you are screwing your legs into the ground. Next, without moving your feet try and rotate your knees out. Take off your shoes and socks and stand with your feet straight. And in order to understand how, try this: Interestingly these two photos were taken seconds apart. The above image highlights the difference between flattened arches (top) and correctly positioned arches (bottom). The arch itself runs from the base of the big toe to the heel. When referencing the arch of the foot we specifically refer to the inside (or medial) border. So let’s go through some simple things to know about why flat feet probably aren’t a foot problem at the end of the day.

Something that needs to be addressed if you truly want to solve your foot dysfunction. It’s the result of a broader breakdown in your overall leg mechanics. It’s often a huge surprise to learn that most arch-related issues are not actually an arch issue in isolation. After all, arch-supportive shoes, orthotics, and arch taping are highly effective symptom relievers.īut this can distract us from the bigger picture. Victor Prisk suggests that “About 30 percent of people have a flat foot.” Furthermore, he states that “For every person who has a flat foot, one in 10 probably has some symptoms from it.”Īnd this is important to acknowledge because the more symptomatic flat feet there are, the more we tend to look at the foot for answers. Interestingly, flat feet are reaching epidemic proportions among modern-day humans. Take a moment to look at the arches of your feet.ĭo they sit low to the ground? Or can you literally see an arch?

Collapsed arch