The Best Shoes and Exercises to Support Flat Feet

If you have flat feet, you’ll know that they can sometimes feel painful. Luckily, there are plenty of things you can do to help, including doing exercises for flat feet. Yes, it’s time to start stretching, strengthening and rolling, because an exercise routine for your flat feet pain can actually improve the condition.

Exercises for Flat Feet

Flat feet are also known as fallen arches, so it’s no surprise that many of these exercises for flat feet pain target the arches in particular. Here are a few of our favorites. They’re easy to add to your daily routine, or try doing them for half an hour three times a week.

The Towel Scrunch

An effective strengthening exercise for your arches, this one targets the small muscles in the foot. To begin, sit in a chair with a towel on the floor in front of you. Then reach your toes out to grab the fabric, scrunching it back towards you.

The Stair Raise

In this arch exercise for flat feet, stand with the balls of your feet on a step, and your heels hanging below. Press down onto your tiptoes to raise up the rest of the feet, then bring your heels back down to repeat. Do three sets of ten.

The Runner’s Stretch

The best exercises for flat feet pain don’t just target your feet. Podiatrists recommend a runner’s stretch to loosen the calf muscles that form the Achilles tendon. Leaning against a wall, bend your front leg and stretch your back leg behind you with your heel on the floor. Hold for 30 seconds each side.

The Roll

This should feel really good: Sit in a chair, barefoot, with a tennis or golf ball under your foot (a can works well, too). Roll it around under your arch for two to three minutes to stretch the bottom of your foot; then switch feet and repeat.

Stylish Shoes for Flat Feet

Once you’ve found your favorite exercises, enhance the effects and keep foot pain at bay with orthopedic shoes for flat feet. Arch support is crucial, and the best shoes for flat feet women have this built in. All our Taos Active shoes include our Curves & Pods® removable footbed. Stylish and versatile, options like Star make for the best shoes for flat feet by combining comfort and excellent arch support with chic design.

For other stylish shoes for flat feet, you can find similar support in a casual Mary Jane like Ta Dah. These also have the Taos Curves and Pods® premium removable footbed, with a durable leather upper that you can easily dress up or down.

Stability is important, too, when searching for orthopedic shoes for flat feet. Flat feet often go hand-in-hand with overpronation (when your feet roll inward), and a shoe with a stable outsole can help to counter this. Aura is an active sandal with a sturdy EVA outsole and rubber stabilizer that supports and cradles your foot. Plus, the Taos Soft Support™ premium footbed with Cool Recovery Foam™ keeps feet cool and comfortable, making these a great choice among shoes for flat feet women.

With stylish shoes for flat feet and a regular exercise routine, you’re well on your way towards supporting your arches and preventing foot pain. Don’t let your flat feet get in the way of your life; look stylish and feel great with the tips above.