

People with flat feet also tend to overpronate, says Elliott, meaning their foot rolls inward more than the ideal amount as it makes contact with the ground. This means that runners with flat feet don’t get as much propulsive force when they push off the ground, says Elliott. Solutions to the Most Common Causes of Arch PainĬompared to feet that have a normal or high arch, flat feet have more flexibility and less rigidity.That said, some people get flat feet as the result of a specific tendon injury in the foot, says Elliott. You can do a similar test on the beach by noticing what your footprints look like in the sand-here’s a handy visual from the Mayo Clinic for reference.Īs for what causes flat feet, most often it’s genetics, says Sutera.

If you see a print of your entire foot, then you have flat feet if there’s some empty space where your arch is, then you have normal (or possibly high) arch feet. Step off and notice the watermark that remains. It may be difficult to evaluate the curve of your arch while standing, in which case you can do a rudimentary test using water and a piece of cardboard: Get your entire foot wet, then stand on the cardboard. People with really flat feet may notice that their arch touches the ground, says Elliott. If there is no curve, you likely have flat feet. Simply stand barefoot and notice if there is a curve in the arch of your foot. Play icon The triangle icon that indicates to playįlat feet can be diagnosed by a doctor, but usually, they are “pretty easy to spot,” says Sutera.
