Flat Foot Pain: 5 Non-Surgical Treatment Options That Can Help

While everyone is born with flat feet, most babies develop arches as they start walking. For close to one in three people, however, those arches either never develop or collapse at some point. The resulting flat feet can fuel painful symptoms.

At Babak Kosari, DPM, in Northridge and Santa Clarita, California, board-certified foot and ankle surgeon Babak Kosari, DPM, FACFAS, offers comprehensive care for flat foot pain, so you can experience lasting comfort and ease.

Here’s a closer look at flat feet problems, including non-surgical treatments that can help.

Flat feet challenges

Foot arches are like springboards that allow you to walk with ease. The arches also absorb shock, help your feet adapt to uneven walking surfaces, and store and release energy as you walk or exercise. Foot arches protect the blood vessels and nerves in the soles of your feet, too.

So when you lack foot arches, you’re more likely to experience:

• Foot pain, especially after walking
• Easy foot fatigue 
• Ankle pain, sprains, and instability
• Shin splints 
• Walking pattern (gait) disorders
• Posture problems from an uneven gait 
• Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis 

If your flat feet symptoms go ignored, you can develop pain in other areas of your body as well, such as your knees, hips, and lower back. Over time, unaddressed flat feet can lead to foot and ankle arthritis.

Non-surgical flat foot pain treatments

Severe flat foot pain or complications may require surgery, but mild to moderate aches often fare well with conservative care. 

Five options we may recommend include:

1. Custom orthotics
2. Prescription shoes
3. Physical therapy (PT)
4. Over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication
5. Losing excess weight

Custom orthotics and prescription shoes keep your feet stable and supported, often creating the arches you need. PT exercises and stretches help by strengthening muscles in and around your feet while improving blood flow and flexibility. 

Reaching maintaining a healthy body weight can ease flat foot pain by reducing pressure on your feet and ankles. OTC medications can help fill in the gaps, when other measures aren’t quite enough, or when a pain flare happens due to overexercise or a mild injury. 

Depending on the specifics of your flat foot symptoms, Dr. Kosari may recommend one or more conservative treatments. In some cases, one treatment enhances another. Wearing custom orthotics, for example, may make PT and exercise for weight loss more feasible and effective, leading to even more benefits.

Expert care for flat foot pain 

To learn more or get started toward flat foot pain relief, call your nearest Babak Kosari, DPM, office in Northridge or Santa Clarita, California, today. You can also use our online scheduler to book an appointment at your convenience.