A flat foot is characterized by the lack of an arc on the inner side of the foot. In most cases, the case is linked to genetics, obesity, footwear use, and other factors. However, even if born with flat feet, it’s crucial to take care of the foot to avoid pain, stress, and imbalances affecting other parts of the body.
When you treat flat feet, you can align the entire body and live a better life. Here are some tips on how to fix flat feet at home.
Weight loss
For obese and overweight individuals, shedding off some pounds incorporates several benefits to the body. You can take some pressure off the bones, tendons, and ligaments on your feet. You also boost blood flow to the affected area.
Losing weight does not necessarily mean permanently fixing flat feet; however, it will positively affect other effects of flat feet to some extent. Get into a weight loss plan at home, and you will notice the difference.
Custom orthotics
Such items are crucial and can fix flat feet. Those with flexible flat feet are usually seen as normal and may not need any treatment. However, if you experience pain when you stand or walk for long, you may consider orthotic shoes.
The orthotic shoes are semi-rigid shoe inserts whose purpose is to support the arc for better biomechanics as you walk, run or stand.
Shoes
Footwear also goes a long way into fixing flat feet. If you wear supportive shoes incorporating better support offers some relief to the foot, leg, and back symptoms. Try getting comfortable shoes, like walking or athletic shoes incorporating substantial arc support.
Also, make sure the shoe incorporates a firm heel counter as well as a flexible insole. Once you support the arches, you are reducing the tension hence less pain and discomfort.
Make sure your heels remain neutral
Most people suffering from the condition usually stand with heels at an angled-out position. What we mean by a neutral position is making sure the heel remains straight up and down position as you stand. Train yourself to maintain the neutral position to strengthen the muscles of the heel.
Foot tripod
This refers to the way a foot bottom contacts the ground. The three tripod parts are the toe base, the heel center, and the big toe base. Provided you attain the balance between the three points, you will get the ideal stability. You can get a professional to learn how you can easily feel how the points touch the ground as that’s the key to comfortable standing or even running.
Exercises
You can do several flat feet exercises at home to make sure your feet remain comfortable and pain-free. Try finding a routine to exercise for better results. If the foot muscles aren’t strong enough to hold the body mass, you may feel the pain. That’s why you need to engage in exercises that aim at strengthening the muscles and lightening the arches.
By addressing the mobility issue emanating from flat feet, you can strengthen the arch muscles and reduce stress on the foot tissue. Once the tissue is stressed, you will feel pain as a result of over-pronation. Hopefully, the above guide on how to fix flat feet at home will help you understand your feet better. Besides, having flat feet isn’t the end of the world. You can still lead a fit and comfortable life.
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