MD Podiatrist Discusses Shoe Buying for Flat Feet

Even if you have flat feet, chances are you haven’t given much thought to the type of shoe you should be wearing. That’s because the condition – which occurs when the foot does not have a natural arch, allowing the entire foot to touch the ground – is fairly common and typically painless.
 
 
But even if your flat feet aren’t causing you pain, wearing the wrong shoes could lead to other issues. “Many problems can occur or be made worse, such as bunions, hammertoes, tendinitis, plantar fasciitis or back, hip and knee pain,” podiatrist Daniel Michaels, DPM states. Dr. Michaels calls arch support a “must-have” for people with flat feet. “The raised padding or elevation located on the top of insoles in shoes or orthotics helps elevate and neutralize the inside of the mid-foot,” he says.