27/08/2026
Flat feet = more injuries?
Not necessarily.
We’ve been taught for years that a “normal” arch is desirable and that flat feet, pronation or other structural differences need to be corrected.
But the research tells a more nuanced story.
Studies show that:
→ Flat feet can change biomechanics and loading
→ But they are not a strong general predictor of injury
→ Pronation may be associated with some specific injuries, such as shin splints
→ Flat feet don’t appear to reduce vertical jump performance
→ Different biomechanics don’t automatically mean dysfunctional biomechanics
The key point:
Your feet don’t have to look “normal” to function well.
Rather than trying to correct every structural variation, we should be asking better questions:
Can you tolerate the demands of your sport or activity?
Are you strong enough?
Do you have sufficient capacity?
Are you experiencing pain or limitations?
I’ve gone through the research and put together a deeper breakdown of flat feet, arch height, injury risk and performance.
Read the full article: https://oitoo.com/flat-feet-injury-performance-evidence/
StrengthTraining Oitoo