Studies have shown that it can lead to injuries, not just in the foot itself, but also across the body, from the ankle to the spine. Some people with flat feet have over-pronation naturally, but it can also develop as a result of an injury or from wearing the wrong shoes.
The good news is that having flat feet does not mean you can't be good at sports or enjoy your physical activities. In fact, there are many flat-footed individuals among the ranks of elite professional athletes, including marathoners and NBA players. For many people, flat arches are asymptomatic.
Having flat feet makes your balance more unstable and therefore more prone to fatigue and lack of power. And when you're not properly supporting your body weight in your lower half, your upper body gets a less effective workout - in short, you become a less successful athlete.
Overall, there's NO evidence to support that flat foot negatively impacts your speed or ability to run fast. However, it is important to understand that people that are flat footed do need to strengthen their feet in order to run fast or have success in sports.
HIGHLIGHTS: People with flat feet often have problems with their feet twisting inward, also known as overpronation. When there is more weight or impact placed on the feet while running, it could increase the risk of injury. It could also cause greater risk of knee and back pain.
Flat feet within military service go way back throughout history, did you know that back during the first 2 world wars, having flat feet could disqualify recruits from being able to enlist in the army! Having a flatfoot was seen in general as something linked to poor health as well as a sign of a low class individual.
Despite the many disadvantages, it might be the case that some incidences of flat feet could improve the absorption of shocks. If you are a swimmer, flat feet may also be very helpful because they can act as a kind of flipper.
Do not worry! Usain Bolt, the world's fastest man, has flat feet and that didn't stop him from winning 3 straight Olympic Games! It can be treated in several ways and is not something that should worry you. Ensuring that you wear a well fitting, supportive shoe can help.
About 20-30% of the population generally has flat feet because their arches never formed during growth.
Running on toes makes you faster and help you cover more distance without getting tired easily. When you heel strike, your body has to work harder, creating a disadvantage for you. Running on forefoot creates more power and engages more muscles.
The condition is more common in women over the age of 40, however. Pregnant women are also at a higher risk of developing adult acquired flatfeet. Adults with medical conditions including uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and obesity are also at a higher risk.
Are the rumors true that being flat-footed actually makes you slower, and if so, what can I do to fix this? A: Dear Low Arches, It is not true that people can't run fast and well because of flat feet. It is true that runners with fallen or weak arches do have problems with excessive pronation.
For those who have flat feet, running barefoot may help strengthen muscles in your arch and ankles. Those who do a lot of physical activity or run often may experience their flat feet lacking pronation when the arch compresses to help with shock absorption as force exerts on the feet.
Flat Feet And Balance:
Those who have flat feet are more likely to develop muscular imbalances in their ankles, legs, and hips. This situation can lead to balance becoming an issue, and may even result in lower back pain.
However, the difference in biomechanical function of the foot between groups of different ethnic descents can not only be a result of shoes. Dunn et al. [16] reported that flat feet are more common in shod African Americans compared to shod non-Hispanics white and shod Puerto Ricans [16].
Celebrities with flat feet include Usain Bolt and Angelina Jolie. Usain Bolt has won multiple Olympic Games with flat feet. Angelina Jolie also has flat feet and continues to lead a productive and successful career while working on her health.
In very severe cases, flat feet can be corrected surgically to raise the arch or fix the associated problems, says Sutera. But that's rare—most people function just fine without it.
Flat-footed individuals are believed to have poorer jump performance compared to normal-arched individuals. Foot orthoses are commonly used to support the deformed foot arch, and improve normal foot function.
The causes of flat feet are varied. Some inherit the condition from their parents as an isolated trait, this is particularly true for children with hypermobility or “double jointed”. Others develop flat feet as part of another genetic condition. Still others develop the condition over time.
In other words, participants with flatfeet have the same jumping capability as participants with normal feet. The present study controlled for the effect of body size and there was no relationship between foot arch height and jump height.
Most people think flat feet are bad and high arches are desirable. However, in reality, whether you have flat feet or high arches doesn't matter. What matters is how well you can connect to and truly use your feet.
Pes planus is a disability characterized by the arches of your feet flattening. While the disability can be serious, inhibiting your range of motion and ability to walk, it is typically painless.
Cavemen didn't have flat feet or type 2 diabetes. They didn't need orthodontia or get impacted wisdom teeth.