Flat Feet Symptoms, Causes, and How to Fix Flat Feet Pain

One of the most common questions people ask who suffer with flat feet is, "Can a pair of orthotic arch supports really relieve my discomfort?". It turns out the answer is a little more complicated than a simple "yes" or "no". First, it's important to note the arch support insoles can not actually "cure" flat feet.

However, flat feet can cause a variety of painful symptoms in the feet. Many of these symptoms have been treated, and often relieved, by orthotic arch supports for decades!

One of the keys to correctly choosing an arch support shoe insert is first understanding what "flat feet" are, and why discomfort often accompanies this condition.

What Are Flat Feet?

Flat feet, also known as fallen arches, are a common condition seen in both adults and children. Normally, feet have an upward longitudinal curve in the middle called an arch. This arch is formed by a group of tendons and ligaments attached to the heel and foot bones.

Tendons in the lower leg , along with ligaments in the foot, work together to pull and form the foot's arch. However, if the tendons do not pull sufficiently enough, there is a low arch or no arch at all. This condition of collapsed arches is popularly known as flat feet. Flat foot can affect one or both feet.

The lack of crucial arch support in the foot can cause many complications. In people with fallen arches, the normal pressure of walking shifts to other parts of the feet. If not treated properly, this can cause prolonged discomfort, pain, and in some cases, serious joint and foot problems.

What Causes Flat Feet

Flat feet can be present in newborns or develop during childhood. In many cases, the condition can be hereditary.

Flat feet can also be attributed to many other causes such as:

-Wearing shoes with poor arch support
-Excessive walking or standing on high heels
-Muscle damage caused by excessive strain on the feet
-Ruptured or over-stretched tendons
-Abnormality at birth
-The risk of developing flat feet also increases with diabetes, pregnancy, obesity and aging.

How to Get Rid of Flat Feet Symptoms

The treatment for flat feet is dependent on the severity of the condition and underlying cause. In many cases, the symptoms of flat feet can be controlled effectively with conservative care. Your podiatrist may suggest one or more of the following:

-Orthotic arch supports
-Pain medications
-Regular stretching exercises
-Ice and compression to reduce pain and swelling
-Physical therapy

Wearing orthotic arch supports can be tremendously beneficial in alleviating and preventing flat feet pain and discomfort. In addition, taking proper care of the feet and following a consistent home exercise regimen, prescribed by your doctor or physical therapist, can be very effective in prevention and management of the symptoms.

It's important to note that orthotic shoe inserts can not actually "cure" flat feet.

However, flat feet can cause a variety of painful symptoms in the feet. Many of these symptoms have been treated, and often relieved, by orthotic arch supports for decades!

Home Remedy for Painful Flat Feet?

For something that affects so many people, flat feet pain isn't talked about often enough.

For many, the answer is arch support shoe inserts, sometimes custom-made by a podiatrist. These cost hundreds of dollars, and can often end up limiting the types of shoes you can wear.

However, nearly all cases of flat feet can be addressed with a pair of over-the-counter orthotic shoe inserts. Not only do they average a tenth of the cost, but they are available in many different shapes and sizes, so you don't have to get rid of what's in your closet.

It sounds a little too good to be true, but once you understand more about what flat feet is, and how a good orthotic helps, you'll start to see why the solution doesn't have to break the bank.

Our Top 5 Flat Feet Orthotics for 2024

🏆 #1- Samurai Insoles Ninjas

Why are Samurai Insoles our top pick for 2024 for flat feet?

✔️ Design: Samurai Insoles Ninjas are one of the few products on the market that are an ACTUAL ORTHOTIC that is not super rigid. This gives your feet the support they need to comfortably relieve aching flat feet.

They also can be worn in ANY shoe with a removable insole, giving you the flexibility of using them in many types of shoes! And the best part?

Because they aren't an insole made of foam and fabric, they last SO LONG!

There isn't anything to wear out, just put them under the factory insoles of a new pair of shoes and you're good to go.

✔️ Price: At $29.99 these are an absolute steal! Custom orthotics for flat feet can easily cost more than $500. For less than 1/10 the price, these are nearly as good.

✔️ One Year Warranty: Samurai Insoles Ninjas have a one year warranty! No other product we reviewed even comes CLOSE to this. Wow!

✔️ Made in the USA: Samurai Insoles are made in an orthotic lab in the USA. The fact that an American made orthotic can be purchased for under $30 still amazes us.

Here is the founder of Samurai Insoles demonstrating:

#2- Protalus Insoles M100 Max Series

If you've been on the internet in the last year, you haven't sneezed without seeing a Protalus ad. They are comfy and can be very beneficial for flat feet. Protalus' hefty price tag remains their biggest negative.

✔️ Design: Protalus "kind of" has an orthotic merged with an insole. Protalus took a different approach by combining a thick piece of plastic on the bottom of the insole, instead of inside. This definitely does the job, but it also makes them thicker than Samurai Insoles, reducing the choices of shoes they'll fit in well.

❌ Price: Here's the problem with Protalus; they're so expensive! At the time of writing this the current retail is $59.95. Oof. For that kind of money you'd better REALLY love them. It also reduces the chances you'd buy a whole bunch of them to put in all of your shoes.

✔️ 90 Warranty: Protalus products have a 90 day warranty. It's not one year like the Samurai Insoles Ninjas, but better than nothing...

❌ Made in the USA: Protalus insoles are NOT made in the USA unfortunately. For the price we had hoped they were.

#3- Superfeet Green Insoles

Superfeet have been around a LONG time. They got their start being sold in retail sporting goods stores, and have transitioned to selling online in recent years, but this has presented the company with some challenges.

✔️ Design: If you've checked out the Protalus design, just know that the Superfeet did it first. They were one of the first to incorporate an orthotic plastic layer on the outside of the insole. Once again, this does the job, but it also makes them thicker than the Samurai, reducing the choices of shoes they'll fit well in.

✔️ Price: Superfeet are borderline in the pricey range, current retail at the time of writing this article is $49.95.

✔️ 60 Day Warranty: Superfeet green insoles come with a 60 day warranty, significantly less than Samurai Insoles Ninjas or Protalus products.

❌ Made in the USA: Superfeet are not made in the USA unfortunately. Once again, for this price we had hoped they would be.

#4- Dr. Scholl's Custom fit Orthotic Inserts

✔️ Design: Not a full length insole, but still designed to be placed on top of your shoes factory insoles, which may make it difficult for some people to adjust to the feel of this. Once again, Dr. Scholl's Custom Fit combine a thick piece of plastic to the bottom of the insole, instead of inside.

❌ Price: Dr. Scholl's Custom fit Orthotic Inserts currently are our second most expensive selection. At the time of this article they are $49.96 retail price.

✔️ 90 Day Warranty: Dr. Scholls Custom Fit Orthotic Inserts have a 90 day warranty.

❌ Made in the USA: Dr. Scholl's "Custom fit" Orthotic Inserts are not made in the USA unfortunately.

#5- Dr. Scholl's Plantar Fasciitis Orthotics

❌ Design: Well, unfortunately, there isn't much of one. Dr. Scholl’s Pain Relief Orthotics for Plantar Fasciitis are a very thin insole with a *very* thin piece of plastic glued to the bottom. It's unclear how much weight they can hold before flattening out, but by the looks of it, not much.

✔️ Price: Well, they are affordable at $31.00!

✔️ 90 Day Warranty: Dr. Scholl’s Plantar Fasciitis Orthotics have a 90 day warranty.

❌ Made in the USA: Dr. Scholl's Pain Relief Orthotic Inserts are not made in the USA unfortunately.

Whichever you choose to fight your flat feet pain, choose now!

The longer you allow flat feet pain to linger, the harder it is to get rid of, and the longer it will take!

We, Samurai Wellness, LLC, are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Samurai Insoles are branded products made by our company, Samurai Wellness, LLC, but we truly believe that our products are the best on the market! It is important to know that our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.