Flat Feet · Podiatry on the Gold Coast
Flat feet aren’t always a problem — until they are.
Plenty of people walk around on flat feet pain-free their whole lives. Others develop knee, hip or back pain that traces back to the way the arch is loading. The question we answer is whether your flat feet are causing you problems — and if so, what to do about them.
What “flat feet” actually means.
A flat foot (pes planus) is one where the medial arch — the inside curve between heel and ball — sits low or doesn’t form a clear arch when you’re standing. About one in four adults has some degree of flat-footedness, and most aren’t bothered by it.
What matters isn’t the shape but the function. A flexible flat foot that has good control through the ankle and forefoot can be perfectly stable. A rigid flat foot, or a flexible one that’s collapsing too much under load, is the kind that drives pain — usually in the foot itself, but often referred up the chain to the knee, hip or low back.
The single biggest decision in flat-foot management isn’t “do they need orthotics” — it’s “are these flat feet causing the problem in front of me, or just sitting there in the background?”
Which one are you
Six flat-foot scenarios we see.
The same low arch presents very differently in different bodies. The treatment plan only matters once we know which version you have.
01
Aching feet after a long day standing.
Classic adult symptomatic flat foot. The arch fatigues, the soft tissues under it overload, and by 4pm you’re sore. Often the easiest version to manage — supportive footwear, sometimes orthotics, sometimes strengthening work.
02
Knee, hip or back pain that’s linked to your feet.
The foot is the base of the kinetic chain. If your flat foot is collapsing internally with each step, the knee tracks inward, the hip rotates, and the back twists to compensate. Sometimes the right intervention is at the foot; sometimes it’s higher up. We work that out.
03
Growing kids with very flat feet.
Most children outgrow flexible flat feet. Some don’t. We assess whether the foot is developing normally, whether the child has pain or unusual fatigue, and whether they need supportive footwear or temporary orthotic input.
04
Adult-onset flat foot (tib post dysfunction).
Adults — usually women over 40 — whose previously normal arches start collapsing. The tibialis posterior tendon is failing. This needs early intervention with bracing or orthotic support — if it progresses too far, the only fix becomes surgical.
05
Hypermobile flat feet.
Common in people with general joint hypermobility (or EDS). The arches collapse because the supporting ligaments are too lax. Treatment is about teaching the muscles to do what the ligaments can’t. Pilates and targeted strengthening earn their keep here.
06
Asymptomatic flat feet you’re worried about.
If you have flat feet and no pain, you very likely don’t need treatment. We’ll do a full assessment, tell you that honestly, and only intervene if there’s a clear reason to. Not every foot needs an orthotic.
How we work it
Assess first. Orthotics, only if needed.
01
Biomechanical assessment.
We watch you walk, screen your range of motion, look at how the foot loads, and identify whether the flat foot is genuinely causing the problem you’ve come in with. Often we find the pain has a different driver.
02
Targeted, not generic.
If orthotics are the right answer, we prescribe custom ones designed for your foot — not a generic gel insert. If strengthening or mobility work is what you actually need, we go that way instead. Sometimes both.
03
Six-week review.
We check in at six weeks. Better, the same, or worse? If better, we maintain. If the same, we adjust. We don’t keep doing the same thing if it isn’t working.
The honest comparison
Three ways people handle flat feet.
01
Ace — targeted intervention.
We work out whether your flat feet are actually causing your problem, and what specifically needs to change. Some patients leave with custom orthotics. Some leave with a strengthening program. Some leave with reassurance — which is also a valid outcome.
02
Chain-shop orthotic-fit.
Walk in, stand on a scanner, walk out with a generic insert with a $20 markup. Works for some feet. Doesn’t address what’s actually loading wrong. Often doesn’t hold up under real-world wear.
03
Ignoring it.
Asymptomatic flat feet are usually fine to ignore. Symptomatic ones aren’t — they tend to progress. If your feet hurt now, it’s worth knowing why before the rest of the chain starts compensating.
Is this you?
If this sounds like you, book in.
01
Your feet hurt after standing all day.
Classic adult symptomatic flat foot. Easily managed with the right footwear and, if needed, the right orthotic. Don’t put up with this for years — it’s fixable.
02
Your child has very flat feet and trips a lot.
Worth a single assessment to make sure the foot is developing normally and the child isn’t in unnecessary pain. Often reassurance is the right answer; sometimes structured support is.
03
Your arch is starting to collapse and it hurts.
Adult-onset flat foot, especially with inside-ankle pain, is a red flag. Catch tib-post dysfunction early and conservative care still works. Catch it late and the options narrow.
Questions we get asked
Common flat-foot questions.
01 Do I definitely need orthotics?
No. Some flat feet do really well with orthotic support; others don’t need them at all. We’ll do the assessment first and tell you honestly whether orthotics will make a meaningful difference for your case.
02 Will orthotics weaken my feet over time?
No — that’s a common myth. Modern custom orthotics are designed to control specific motion patterns, not immobilise the foot. Where appropriate we pair orthotics with strengthening work so the muscles stay active.
03 Can I fix flat feet with exercises alone?
Sometimes — especially in flexible flat feet and hypermobile cases. Tibialis posterior strengthening, short-foot drills, single-leg balance, and calf work all genuinely help. Whether exercises alone are enough depends on the foot.
04 My child has flat feet — should I be worried?
Usually no. Most flat feet in young children are flexible and resolve naturally by age 6–10 as the arch develops. We’d be more concerned about a rigid flat foot, severe asymmetry, or pain in a child. Worth a single assessment for peace of mind.
05 What kind of shoes should I wear?
Supportive midsole, firm heel counter, modest heel-to-toe drop. Specific brands and styles depend on your foot — we’ll go through that at the assessment. Avoid flat unsupportive shoes for long days on your feet if you’re symptomatic.
06 Is it covered by private health?
Yes — podiatry consults and custom orthotics are both claimable under your podiatry extras. We HICAPS on the spot with every major fund.
HICAPS on the spot with every major fund — plus DVA, NDIS & WorkCover.
Know what your feet are doing — and why.
