Flat Feet Wet Test: Footprint Types, Shoe Wear and Arch Check (Video)

Transcript

Flat feet? How to tell if they matter in seconds.

Flat feet? How to tell if they matter in seconds.

Flat Feet Quick Check

In this video you'll learn how to spot your arch type, read your shoes, and know when a flat foot really needs attention.

Wet Footprint Test

Grab a shallow tray, pour a thin layer of water, step onto brown paper. If the whole foot leaves a solid imprint, your arch is low or flat; a curved half-moon means a normal arch.

Shoe Wear Pattern

Look at the sole of your most-used shoe. A little wear on the outer heel is fine. If the inner heel and the inside of the sole are worn, your foot rolls inward, a sign of low arches. Worn outer edge suggests the foot rolls outward.

Tiptoe Check

Stand on a hard floor, hold a wall lightly, and rise onto the balls of your feet. If an arch shows up, you have a flexible flat foot, normal and painless. If it stays flat, the foot is rigid.

When Flat Feet Matter

Most flat feet are harmless, but pay attention if you feel aching along the inner ankle or arch after standing, if a previously high arch flattens with pain, if a child over six shows a rigid flat foot, or if you have numbness or color changes, especially with diabetes.

Arches form by age

Most kids develop a proper arch between six and ten years old.

Insoles for painful flat feet

If your flat foot hurts, a firm over-the-counter arch support inside a closed shoe can ease strain within a couple of weeks. If it doesn’t hurt, an insole won’t help.

The one tip to watch

The single most important thing: don’t buy shoes or insoles just because you have a flat foot. Seek a doctor only when you experience pain, swelling, or sudden shape change; otherwise, simple footwear is enough.

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Read the full guide

The full guide is on thecareonline.com. General information only, so check with your doctor for your own case.