Flat Feet Treatment, Brighton
Flat feet are something many people have been told they simply have to manage — orthotics for life, supportive shoes, told they overpronate. But flat feet don’t always cause pain in the foot itself, and there’s often a great deal that can be done.
What’s Actually Going On..
Over pronation isn’t really a meaningful diagnosis. The foot has two movements available to it — pronation, where the arch lowers to absorb load, and supination, where the arch lifts to propel you forward. Every healthy foot does both. The problem with flat feet isn’t too much pronation — it’s that the foot often isn’t moving at all. It’s stuck, and has lost access to pronation and supination entirely. Think of the foot like a spring that’s lost its recoil. The work is about restoring that movement so the foot can function the way it was designed to. When the foot is stuck flat, load travels down through the inside of the leg with every step, and the pain often shows up in the knees, hips, or lower back rather than the feet themselves.
A Real Example..
I worked with a client who spent most of his day on his feet running a restaurant. He had very flat feet and significant pain in his knees and back. During the assessment I noticed how he was loading through the inside of his feet, with his feet turned out considerably. When I asked him to stand differently as part of the assessment process, his back pain eased almost immediately. His programme focused on building strength through the inside of the foot and up into the hip, alongside better footwear — and he left significantly more comfortable.
How I Approach It..
I work with Gary Ward’s AIM method — Anatomy in Motion — checking whether the foot can create an arch, building strength through the inside of the foot and hip, and giving specific footwear guidance. Orthotics can offer short-term relief, but the goal is to build a foot that can support itself.
What a Session Looks Like..
Sessions are hands-on and practical, with a specific exercise programme, fully videoed, taking around 20 minutes a day at home. No gym required.
Who Is This For?
If you’ve tried everything and it keeps coming back, you’re in the right place. This works for everyone — whether you’re on your feet all day, dependent on orthotics, or simply want to understand what your flat feet are doing to the rest of your body.
Based in Brighton
I work with clients in Brighton and the surrounding area. A Missing Piece Assessment is the place to start.
Book your Missing Piece Assessment today and find out what your feet have been trying to tell you.
Frequently Asked Questions:
I’ve been told I overpronate — what does that actually mean?
Overpronation isn’t really a diagnosis that tells you much. The foot either pronates or supinates — every healthy foot does both. The problem with flat feet is that the foot has often lost access to supination entirely and is stuck in one position. The work is about restoring the full movement so the foot can find its natural range again.
Do I need orthotics if I have flat feet?
Orthotics can offer useful short-term relief but they don’t address the underlying movement and strength patterns. The goal of the work I do is to build a foot that can support itself so that over time the need for orthotics reduces rather than increases.
My flat feet don’t hurt — should I still be concerned?
Flat feet don’t always cause pain in the foot itself — the symptoms often show up in the knees, hips, or lower back because of the way load travels through a flat foot with every step.
Can flat feet be improved through exercise alone?
Yes — in many cases targeted exercise is the most important part of the solution. I trained with Gait Happens and work with Gary Ward’s AIM method, and the programmes I give are built specifically around what your foot and body are missing.
How does footwear affect flat feet?
Significantly. A wide toe box and a supportive sole make a real difference while the strength work takes hold, and as part of your programme you’ll receive specific guidance on what to look for.