so in the last year or so my left foot has been giving me trouble. at local shoe store they have a foot doctor on staff and she said i had a collapsing arch. its basically flat where as my right foot is normal. anyone ever experience this? i have pretty well always worn cowboy boots. so i am surprised by my one foots flatness. i wonder if driving a stick shift effects this makes it worse? i thought driving a stick would make your left foot and leg stronger. but apparently this condition is partially caused by some muscle in your leg that is weak. that's just what i have read. anyone know anything about this or have found anything that helps?
anyone have a collapsing arch
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Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
i wonder if driving a stick shift effects this makes it worse?
I don't see driving a stick making it worse. Don't give up the stick for that!
i wonder if driving a stick shift effects this makes it worse?
I don't see driving a stick making it worse. Don't give up the stick for that!
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
at local shoe store they have a foot doctor on staff and she said i had a collapsing arch.
Not to doubt the judgement of shoe store "doc" but I would suggest a second opionion
at local shoe store they have a foot doctor on staff and she said i had a collapsing arch.
Not to doubt the judgement of shoe store "doc" but I would suggest a second opionion
Cowboy boots have no arch support at all. Large heel puts all the weight forward on a thin sole. I have brass tip ostrich boots in the closet I got in Texas 20 years ago. Can't remember what I paid for them, but it was a lot. Can't wear them anymore, career ending ankle injury playing sports coming back to haunt me.
I've had flat feet all my adult life, if not before. My archs are flat to the floor so my feet usually hurt all the time. In the army (infantry of all things) I especially had problems in the cold. I've tried a few things, like arch supports and inserts. Nothing really helped. The worst issues I had was to blow-out both arches within a few minutes of each other on a mile run for a PT test in subfreezing weather. Took weeks to get over that! I feel for you, since you will probably have to live with it from now on.
I got flat foot in the Army from marching around with a 100+ pound pack. I have to wear arch support.
This anecdote probably isn't very helpful, but may be amusing:
For over a decade I thought I had that very problem developing in my left foot. I needed to wear boots (sneakers are too soft) with arch support insoles and tied very tight at any time I'd be walking more than a dozen paces or so. I'd have to tighten my laces two or three times a day to keep them tight enough. Putting any weight on the ball of my left foot otherwise would cause terrible sharp pain.
After so many years I had a freak accident while attempting to eat prime rib which resulted in a torn calf muscle. Two weeks mostly off my feet cured the problem with my foot but gave me a small bony lump on top of it which has since grown to golf ball size. No flat-footedness here, just a broken bone that hadn't been diagnosed and allowed to heal.
For over a decade I thought I had that very problem developing in my left foot. I needed to wear boots (sneakers are too soft) with arch support insoles and tied very tight at any time I'd be walking more than a dozen paces or so. I'd have to tighten my laces two or three times a day to keep them tight enough. Putting any weight on the ball of my left foot otherwise would cause terrible sharp pain.
After so many years I had a freak accident while attempting to eat prime rib which resulted in a torn calf muscle. Two weeks mostly off my feet cured the problem with my foot but gave me a small bony lump on top of it which has since grown to golf ball size. No flat-footedness here, just a broken bone that hadn't been diagnosed and allowed to heal.
Flat feet are often 'flexible' feet.
They distort under load, but look normal at rest.
Is this your case?
They distort under load, but look normal at rest.
Is this your case?
Count me as another person who developed flat feet while in the Army (infantry).
Both in and out of the service, I've been to doctors, physical therapists, and podiatrists -- I've done lots of exercises, bought/issued custom orthotics, etc. I don't think there really is a cure.
Some things that have helped me:
1) Shoes or boots that deter lateral rolling of the heel. I tend to compensate by over pronating (toes face outwards, with pressure hitting back right of heel and ball of foot, while walking). Shoes with solid rubber on the outside of heel help keep a normal gate.
2) Quality, over the counter, boot insoles with arch support. I've found the OTC insoles work better than orthotics.
3) Make a conscious effort to maintain a "normal" gate.
4) Wear appropriate footwear -- Boots when working, sneakers as much as possible, and avoiding flip flops or shoes with no arch.
If possible, if I were you, I'd visit a podiatrist and see what he recommends (he'll either prescribe inserts or send you to a shoe store that knows what they're doing). Barring that, try to track down a shoe store that either specializes in Rx shoes or a small shop that only carries one or two brands (running or boot store).
Both in and out of the service, I've been to doctors, physical therapists, and podiatrists -- I've done lots of exercises, bought/issued custom orthotics, etc. I don't think there really is a cure.
Some things that have helped me:
1) Shoes or boots that deter lateral rolling of the heel. I tend to compensate by over pronating (toes face outwards, with pressure hitting back right of heel and ball of foot, while walking). Shoes with solid rubber on the outside of heel help keep a normal gate.
2) Quality, over the counter, boot insoles with arch support. I've found the OTC insoles work better than orthotics.
3) Make a conscious effort to maintain a "normal" gate.
4) Wear appropriate footwear -- Boots when working, sneakers as much as possible, and avoiding flip flops or shoes with no arch.
If possible, if I were you, I'd visit a podiatrist and see what he recommends (he'll either prescribe inserts or send you to a shoe store that knows what they're doing). Barring that, try to track down a shoe store that either specializes in Rx shoes or a small shop that only carries one or two brands (running or boot store).
You need to ditch the high heal faux cowboy boots and get some real shoes with real arch support.
Find a "technical" shoe store in your area-a store that caters to serious runners and walkers. They can measure your gait, pronation/supination, and measure your arches to determine the correct shoe for you. They'll be able to fit you with a shoe that gives you the correct amount of support and stabilizes your gait. Not only your feet, but your hips and back will thank you.
If you're required to wear boots at work (I doubt a pizza jockey has such a requirement) then wear lower healed lace up work boots recommended by the same technical shoe store with arch supports.
There's a reason why those of us who run/walk and spend serious time on our feet don't wear cowboy boots-they are some of the worst possible footwear, with poor arch support, high heals and pointy toes. You might as well wear high healed ladies shoes-both do about the same damage to your feet.
Find a "technical" shoe store in your area-a store that caters to serious runners and walkers. They can measure your gait, pronation/supination, and measure your arches to determine the correct shoe for you. They'll be able to fit you with a shoe that gives you the correct amount of support and stabilizes your gait. Not only your feet, but your hips and back will thank you.
If you're required to wear boots at work (I doubt a pizza jockey has such a requirement) then wear lower healed lace up work boots recommended by the same technical shoe store with arch supports.
There's a reason why those of us who run/walk and spend serious time on our feet don't wear cowboy boots-they are some of the worst possible footwear, with poor arch support, high heals and pointy toes. You might as well wear high healed ladies shoes-both do about the same damage to your feet.
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
You need to ditch the high heal faux cowboy boots and get some real shoes with real arch support.
Find a "technical" shoe store in your area-a store that caters to serious runners and walkers. They can measure your gait, pronation/supination, and measure your arches to determine the correct shoe for you. They'll be able to fit you with a shoe that gives you the correct amount of support and stabilizes your gait. Not only your feet, but your hips and back will thank you.
If you're required to wear boots at work (I doubt a pizza jockey has such a requirement) then wear lower healed lace up work boots recommended by the same technical shoe store with arch supports.
There's a reason why those of us who run/walk and spend serious time on our feet don't wear cowboy boots-they are some of the worst possible footwear, with poor arch support, high heals and pointy toes. You might as well wear high healed ladies shoes-both do about the same damage to your feet.
i hate anything with laces. i like to be able to slip on and go. why would you say faux? not sure what you mean by that. yes i know what the word means but i am pretty sure you used it out of context. my boots are all square toe as well. i wore my rockys today and my feet felt better but still it doesn't really fix the issue. the rockys have more of a work boot sole not as arched and high healed as cowboy boots. i would wear a slip on shoe of some sort if i found one that was something i would wear. i am not a guy who really cares much on how i look but i always wear a hat and i always wear boots. its second nature.
You need to ditch the high heal faux cowboy boots and get some real shoes with real arch support.
Find a "technical" shoe store in your area-a store that caters to serious runners and walkers. They can measure your gait, pronation/supination, and measure your arches to determine the correct shoe for you. They'll be able to fit you with a shoe that gives you the correct amount of support and stabilizes your gait. Not only your feet, but your hips and back will thank you.
If you're required to wear boots at work (I doubt a pizza jockey has such a requirement) then wear lower healed lace up work boots recommended by the same technical shoe store with arch supports.
There's a reason why those of us who run/walk and spend serious time on our feet don't wear cowboy boots-they are some of the worst possible footwear, with poor arch support, high heals and pointy toes. You might as well wear high healed ladies shoes-both do about the same damage to your feet.
i hate anything with laces. i like to be able to slip on and go. why would you say faux? not sure what you mean by that. yes i know what the word means but i am pretty sure you used it out of context. my boots are all square toe as well. i wore my rockys today and my feet felt better but still it doesn't really fix the issue. the rockys have more of a work boot sole not as arched and high healed as cowboy boots. i would wear a slip on shoe of some sort if i found one that was something i would wear. i am not a guy who really cares much on how i look but i always wear a hat and i always wear boots. its second nature.
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