Doesn't it seem as if flat feet would be a good thing for humans? Wouldn't it make it easier to walk, and wouldn't you twist your ankles less? Wouldn't the body's weight be more evenly distributed? In truth, feet should have good arches and shoes should give arch support as much as possible. This is because of the way the human body is and how the foot works when you walk or stand.Having flat feet is actually very serious and something that should be considered by anyone, especially those with problems with their joints and those that are obese. This is because in these circumstances in particular, there is more pressure on the foot when standing or walking. Improperly shaped feet or problems with the ankle or heel can mean severe or chronic pain; this includes when a person has flat feet.Here are some important considerations for why flat feet are such a health problem and concern and how to address this problem.

Shape and Weight of the Body

Because of how the body is shaped and how it holds weight, flat feet are actually not ideal. The legs are actually shorter along the inseam than they are along the outside of the body; the hips are higher than the thighs and they are part of the legs. This means that the outside of the legs can and should support more of the body's weight. Legs cannot simply "collapse" along the inseam and if a person has flat feet, this is what happens.That arch of the foot pushes the body's weight to the outside of the legs giving it more support. When you have flat feet more weight is distributed along the inside of the legs which means more pressure on the ankles and joints than they're meant to handle. When someone has flat feet they often notice pain along the inside of the entire legs as well as pain in the back, since these areas are all working overtime to support the weight that should be supported by those large muscles on the outside of the legs.

Diagnosis and Treatment

You may look at your flat feet and notice that you don't have much of an arch on the inside of them, but you still may want to see a doctor to have the condition properly diagnosed. When you have pain along the legs, ankles, heels, and back, it's still good to get an accurate diagnosis because of course that can be caused by any number of things. However, if it's obvious to you that you have flat feet you can address this on your own.Insoles and supports are always good for those with any type of foot problem, and ones designed specifically for flat feet can give your instep that support it needs. These can cushion the weight that pushes down on this part of the foot and help to redistribute it as much as possible, giving you relief of pain.