I am Flat Footed and I am Proud of It

To all flat footed runners out there, repeat after me:  “I am flat footed and I am proud of it!”

I read an article on New York times today that ends this way:

“Dr. Nigg says he always wondered what was wrong with having flat feet. Arches, he explains, are an evolutionary remnant, needed by primates that gripped trees with their feet.

“Since we don’t do that anymore, we don’t really need an arch,” he wrote in an e-mail. “Why would we? For landing — no need. For the stance phase — no need. For the takeoff phase — no need. Thus a flat foot is not something that is bad per se.”

You said it, Dr. Nigg!

As for the rest of the article, it reveals that scientists know that orthotics work, but they don’t exactly know how. It actually raises more questions than it provides answers.  I’ve been a user of Spenco insoles for years now and I cannot live without it.  No doubt in my mind that it has helped me cope with my runner’s knee and ITBS.  Now, the big question is: Should I start weaning myself away from it?  Hmmm….

Click HERE to read the full article.