Podiatrist · Specialist in Biomechanics · Founder of VOLKAN
"One of the biggest mistakes we have made for decades has been to confuse the shape of the foot with its ability to function."
If you have flat feet, you've probably heard this phrase at some point.
—"You need a good arch support."
It seems logical.
If the arch is lower...
It will need support.
For many years that was the most accepted explanation.
However, today we know that the reality is much more complex.
Because not all flat feet hurt.
And not all feet with a high arch function well.
As is often the case in biomechanics, the important question is not how a foot looks.
The question is how it functions.
What the science says
Flat feet, by themselves, are not a disease.
They are an anatomical characteristic.
There are people with a little marked arch who walk, run, stand, or play sports their whole lives without any discomfort.
Current scientific evidence shows that the presence of a lower arch does not predict, by itself, the onset of pain or injuries.
What really matters is how that foot functions.
Its mobility.
The strength of its musculature.
Its ability to adapt to the terrain.
The coordination with the ankle, the knee, and the hip.
Two people can have an arch that appears identical.
And need completely different treatments.
Because biomechanics does not study only the shape.
It studies movement.
Why does this myth arise?
For many years we imagined the plantar arch as if it were the bridge of a building.
And if a bridge lowers...
We think it needs a pillar to hold it up.
But the human foot is not a rigid structure.
It is a living structure.
With each step, the arch changes slightly in height.
It adapts.
It absorbs loads.
It stores energy.
And participates in the push that allows us to keep moving forward.
It is not designed to remain still.
It is designed to move.
That’s why valuing a foot only by the height of its arch is like trying to judge a car by only looking at the body.
What matters is not how it looks.
What matters is how it works.
What I see every day in consultation
As a podiatrist specializing in biomechanics, one of the most common situations is attending to people worried simply because someone told them that they have flat feet.
Many have never had pain.
They have never suffered injuries.
They have never limited their activity.
But they have been convinced for years that "their foot is wrong."
When we conduct a complete biomechanical study, we often find that foot functions perfectly.
However, I also see the opposite case.
People with a very pronounced arch who present overloads, mobility limitations, or persistent pain.
And that demonstrates something that I always try to explain in consultation.
An arch does not need to be high. It needs to be functional.
The shape of the foot is just one part of the story.
Function always matters much more.
Does that mean that support is never needed?
No.
And this is a very important nuance.
There are situations where a plantar support or an insole can be a very useful tool.
Certain pathologies.
Painful processes.
Recovery phases.
Or specific biomechanical needs.
But an insole should not be placed simply because the arch is low.
It should be indicated when there is a clinical reason that justifies it.
As a podiatrist, my goal is never to "fill a gap."
My goal is to understand why that foot functions in a certain way and decide what the best strategy is for that person.
Because treating a footprint is not the same as treating the person who walks on it.
The question we should really ask ourselves
When someone asks me if their flat foot needs support, I rarely respond by only looking at the shape of the arch.
I prefer to ask other questions.
Does it hurt?
Does it limit you from walking or doing sports?
How does your ankle move?
How does your musculature work?
How do you distribute the loads when walking?
Biomechanics is precisely about that.
It's about understanding movement before trying to modify it.
And many times, the answer does not lie in holding the foot tighter.
It’s about helping it function better.
What can you do
Don't assume you need support just because you've been told you have flat feet.
If you've never had discomfort, the shape of your arch does not have to represent a problem.
Maintain a good strength in the foot muscles and adequate mobility of the ankle. Both are fundamental for good biomechanical function.
If you experience pain or limitations, seek a complete assessment instead of focusing solely on the shape of your footprint.
If a professional recommends an insole, ask what the goal of the treatment is and what function it aims to improve.
Remember that the best treatment is always the one that meets the needs of your foot, not a label.
Conclusion
Flat feet do not need support simply because they are flat.
They need to be understood.
Because the shape of a foot does not automatically determine its ability to walk, run, or stay healthy.
As a podiatrist specializing in biomechanics, I am wary of recommendations that are based solely on appearance.
Biomechanics has taught us that two seemingly identical feet can behave in completely different ways.
My job is not to correct all low arches.
It consists of helping each foot function in the best way possible.
Because, many times, the real problem is not having a lower arch.
It is thinking that the shape of the foot matters more than the way that foot moves.
And when you understand that difference, you discover that the goal has never been to build a perfect arch.
It has been to build a foot capable of accompanying you throughout your life.