Do I Have Flat Feet?
If you have asked this question before, then you’re probably concerned about your feet.
So I’m going to provide you with some very easy, very fast ways of telling that you truly have flat feet, and if you need to worry about it.
I’m going to include some questions as well as some tests that you can perform at home.
Do I Have Flat Feet - Quiz
- Have you been told by family and friends that your feet loo flat?
- Do you find walking or running to do to be a chore that you don’t enjoy?
- Do you get fatigued in the legs and feet when you have to stand up for an extended period (over 10 minutes).
- When you were at school did you find that you couldn’t run as fast as the other children?
- Do you get sore legs at the end of the day?
If you answered “yes”to two or more of the questions above – there is a good chance that you have flat feet.
Move onto the tests below.
Do I Have Flat Feet - Tests
Here are three simple tests to telll you if you have flat feet.
1. The Wet Foot Test:
2. Are your Feet Flat When Weight Bearing
This is when your feet will look their flattest.
Standing in a comfortable position take a look down at you feet.
Do they appear to bulge on the inside?
Below is a picture of a very flat footed man. I have included him as an extreme example to give you an idea of how flat feet can get.
Notice that his feet are at quite a wide angle. This is his most comfortable stance due his very flat feet.
Just because your feet are not quite as flat as his, does not mean that you don’t have flat feet.
3. Are your Feet Flat When Not Weight Bearing
Even if you have flat feet when you are standing up, they can be either flexible or rigid flat feet.
Rigid flat feet are much more likely to cause pain and dysfunction than flexible flat feet are.
For this test you simply sit down and take a look at the bottom of your feet to see if they have a non-weight bearing arch.
If they do have an arch, but you have a flat foot when standing, then you may have flexible flat foot.
If you have flat feet when standing and the shape is the same when sitting, then you likely have rigid or fixed flat foot.
4. Can You Make an Arch When Going Onto Tip Toes.
This test lets us know more about how your feet can actually function. Which is much more important than how they look.
Some people are unable to even lift their heels due to having severely flat feet (see image below).
Stand facing a wall with your feet shoulder width apart.
With both hands touching the wall raise both heels as high as you can.
Look down at your feet and see if they are turning outwards (supinating).
If they are not turning out at all and you can not go up high on tiptoe, then you are likely to have flat feet.
This is as high on tiptoes that this gentleman can go.
Notice that his heels do not turn inwards at all, they remain turned out (everted).
So You Have Flat Feet, Now What?
If you answered “yes” to two or more of the quiz questions, and you had a positive result in one of the above tests – there is a good chance that you have flat feet.
Important – this is NOT a diagnosis. I am an Australian podiatrist, but I am not YOUR podiatrist.
Always remember that flat feet is NOT a disease, but it can be a contributor to several painful conditions including:
- Plantar Fasciitis,
- Bunions,
- Callous and corns,
- Ankle pain,
- Shin Splints,
- Knee Pain,
- Hip pain,
- Lower back pain.
If you are concerned about your feet – see your local podiatrist – they can provide you with a hands on diagnosis and devise a plan to help you.