Dr. Allan Horowitz, published newspaper article, Richmond Hill Liberal, Copyright November 09, 1989

Dear Dr. Horowitz:

            I am a 65-year-old man who has flat feet. I have always known about them ever since I was told at my navy physical exam but I have never done anything about them.

The arches of my feet hurt whenever I walk more than a half-hour without resting. If I sit for a while the aching goes away.

I have a friend who is probably 10 years younger than me, and he tells me I should get a pair of foot supports. What is your opinion?

Answer:

            There are several reasons to purchase a pair of arch supports, and yet not everyone who has foot pain really needs them. There are also many different kinds of supports, ranging from custom fit (a few hundred dollars), store bought ($20), to home made.

Any of these will work to cushion and support the “fallen” arches of your feet and which type you get depends on how much support you need, how comfortable each type feels, whether you have any other foot problems and how much money you have to spend on your feet.

(Actually, the custom fit supports are usually covered by your extended health coverage at work, so it is worthwhile checking into it. These supports are actually called “orthotics”.)

Getting back to your own problem, I am not even sure you require orthotics. You have likely had flat feet for most of your life. You sound like you function quite adequately, and if a 65 year old has to sit down for a few minutes every half-hour that is not so bad.

However, if you notice your foot pain getting worse with time, or if you begin to develop back pain, hip, knee or ankle swelling or pain, or if you begin to get cramps in your legs or calves, then perhaps something should be done.

A good place to start would be to begin wearing only comfortable walking shoes or running shoes which have a good built-up arch support. If this doesn’t improve your situation, try the store-bought supports.

These are usually made from a synthetic plastic or rubber-like material, and are usually comfortable if you can find the right size for your shoe. You might have to cut them down or trim them a bit.

If these still don’t do the trick to reduce your pain, you might want to try a custom-fit pair (most chiropractors and podiatrists will know how to fit these).

Orthotics are definitely not for everyone, and some people just find them too uncomfortable. It is possible that a man who has flat feet for 50 years might never get accustomed to a foreign object in his shoes. It is also possible that his problem might be solved by these supports.

The decision must be made by you, and it should be based on: how much pain you are having; whether or not it is getting worse; is the pain remaining localized to your arches after walking or is it now beginning to affect other parts of your legs and back; and how much is this pain disturbing your lifestyle?

In other words, if you enjoy walking as a hobby and are disappointed that you have foot pain after half an hour, then maybe you should try the orthotics. If, on the other hand, you walk very rarely, and don’t really like it anyway, then maybe it’s not such an inconvenience for you to sit and rest if your feet hurt.

The decision is yours and you should base it on the information I gave you.

One last hint – try massaging your feet deeply whenever they begin to hurt. The increased blood circulation will feel good and should get you back on your feet quicker.