Flat Feet
Improve the effects of overpronation with comprehensive podiatry care.
What Are Flat Feet?
When you take a step, the arch of your foot helps with stability and motion. There is a misconception that some people do not have much of an arch. However, what really happens is that as they take a step, their foot rolls inward too much. In other words, as the foot bears weight, the arch appears to collapse or flatten. This is known as pronation. This action is normal to a certain extent in adults, but when it becomes excessive or occurs at the wrong time, it may cause discomfort, balance, mobility and posture issues.

What Causes Flat Feet?
There are a range of reasons why your walking pattern may involve abnormal pronation. Some of these include:
- Hypermobility
- Muscle spasticity, such as that associated with cerebral palsy
- Low muscle tone – commonly seen in late walking children
- Short tight muscles, such as in the calves
- Hereditary bone conditions
- Soft tissue injury.
- Degeneration
- Spinal conditions, such as scoliosis
- Pelvic misalignment
- Pregnancy
- Leg length difference
- Health conditions such as diabetes or arthritis
- Abnormal leg rotation
- Growing Pains.
Flat Feet Symptoms
If your arch appears to flatten while taking a step, it may contribute to a range of symptoms. This may be due to the stress it can place on certain ligaments, muscles, tendons, bones, and joints, pressure on the surrounding skin, and misalignment throughout the body.
Some symptoms that may present due to flat feet can include:
- Mild to moderate pain and aching in the feet and lower limbs
- Plantar fasciitis
- Heel pain or spurs
- Bunions, calluses, or corns
- Sever’s disease
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Ankle instability and pain
- Ligament strains
- Sciatica
- Posterior tibial tendinopathy
- Shin splints
- Hip bursitis
- Disc protrusion
- Iliotibial band syndrome
- Patellofemoral syndrome
- Kyphosis
- Osgood Schlatter’s disease
- Pelvic instability
- Runner’s knee
- Lower back pain
Why Choose Us For Flat Feet Treatment?
Our podiatry team has an extensive background in treating a broad array of foot and lower limb issues. We are committed to providing each of our patients with support and comprehensive care.
Highly Experienced Podiatrists
We frequently treat flat feet and the issues this issue may cause. We understand the implications and can apply a variety of methods to work towards improvement.
Up-to-date Resources
Our clinic uses modern, evidence-based knowledge and equipment to deliver treatment for the array of conditions related to flat feet, and rehabilitate the foots posture, restoring the arch and associated compensations.
Personalised Treatment
Flat feet can occur due to a number of reasons with various underlying factors involved. We tailor a treatment plan to your unique needs and target functional and dynamic outcomes with the intention of reducing your need for further treatment rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
Flat Feet Treatment - Dural, NSW
Treatment for flat feet can vary depending on your symptoms, the severity, and your requirements. After a thorough biomechanical assessment, your podiatrist will develop a personalised care plan that will cater to your needs and goals.
Treatment may include:
- Exercises to improve your arch profile and balance while reducing your dependence on other treatments and supports.
- Footwear advice
- Custom orthotics
- Dry needling
- Manual therapy, including massage and joint mobilisation and/or manipulation
- Shockwave therapy

Foot And Leg Pain Centre
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are dealing with discomfort or reduced functionality, your podiatrist will undertake a comprehensive assessment of your feet, lower limbs, and hips. We will quantify your foot posture with the gold standard approach using the Foot Posture Index, determining the degree of your flat feet. This will help them to identify underlying factors and diagnose the issue. Assessment will include analysis of your walking and running pattern using our gait analysis video equipment, as well as your symptoms and relevant medical background. The assessment of your natural walking and running foot function can be conducted on a treadmill and or outside on the footpath.
The symptoms associated with excessively flat feet are easily resolved and managed in most cases with professional guidance and treatment. Once the symptoms are resolved, our goal with all patients is to reduce their dependence on treatments.
When we walk barefoot, our tendons and muscles have to work harder due to the lack of support. This can sometimes help, but in other cases, it can cause more harm by worsening the problem and increasing discomfort and fatigue. Shoes can either assist your foot function, detract from foot function and hurt your feet exacerbating the symptoms you experience. Our experienced practitioners can help you choose between supportive shoes and other types, such as minimalist (barefoot-like) or cushioned (maximalist) footwear.
Yes, of course we do. But more importantly, we recognise the importance of balancing the evidence with experience. To blindly follow the evidence is a sign of a naive practitioner. Here are references for the information we have provided on this page:
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Contact Us For Comprehensive Care For Flat Feet
If you are dealing with flat feet and associated symptoms, please contact our friendly team to organise an initial consultation. Your podiatrist will work with you to identify the best way forward. We are excited to support you towards better comfort and functionality for you to Leave The Pain Behind.