Adult-Acquired Flat Foot Syndrome’ and riding

[Fransurrey]

Does anybody here have ‘Adult-Acquired Flat Foot Syndrome’? I’ve just been diagnosed with it. That and a depressing list of related symptoms, including collapsed arches, a dislocated cuboid (now corrected by scary manipulation), left knee turning in, unlevel hips/pelvis (due to the collapse being worse on the left) and a long word meaning overtightened calf muscle, due to over-pronation of the feet. Told you it was depressing...

Aside from trading my body in for a new one, I wondered if there was anything I could do riding-wise, as I’m conscious of the fact that ‘heels down’ effectively means over-pronation of the foot, which apparently I have to avoid. The podiatrist (oh I feel soooo posh having my own ‘Podiatrist’, he he!) did the cast on my feet today for orthotics (specialist insoles to correct the condition and prevent me being crippled in the future!). I’m going to have a go at riding without stirrups as much as poss, but having also circulatory problems I can’t do this for long periods (apparently poor circulation and Raynauds correlates with this condition).

Or should I just retire and ride bareback on an exotic beach???

 

[Gluttonforpunishment]

Oh the joys of having naff joints / conformation!!

I've got a dodgy pelvis (hip disolcates if over stretched), some weird muscle knotting issue with my knees, pain in my sacroilliac joints and yes, was diagnosed a couple of years ago with flat feet, rotated heels and a something to do with rolling my foot when walking, and yes, poor circulation to boot.

If I was an animal I'd have been pts years ago.

Fear not - the foot thing is easily controlled with shoe inserts & regular podiatrist visits - I love mine, he's amazing!!

You'll find having the inserts in your riding boots feels odd for a while but they do help. Give up on the whole toe in, heels down effort and don't do what hurts. You won't necessarily look pretty but at least you'll be able to walk!

I also find that regular visits to an osteopath helps with levelling up my hips. My podiatrist told me that it is very common for the two professions to work together for a sucessful outcome.

Good luck with it all, give it a few months and I'm sure you'll be pleased with the improvement.

Alternatively, the exotic beech sounds good too!

 

[Fransurrey]

Thanks for that. I can't say I look particularly pretty anyway, being a happy hacker, so not worried about that!

Podiatrist reckons that I am quite early in the 'disease' process, so he's confident that I will make a full recovery.

Yeah, know what you mean about being pts. I'm seriously considering whether I should give up any idea of breeding me!!!

 

[blackcob]

I've had flat feet my entire life, treated at various points with orthotics, physio etc. and have come to the conclusion that on a bad day you just need to take painkillers and get on with it.

I'm never going to be a 'pretty' rider, I have an awful tendency to lean forward due to related lower back issues, but the inserts go some way towards helping foot position. I also found that short boots and chaps helped, long stiff leather boots encourage you to scrunch and point toes to take the pressure off your ankle, you don't bother to correct it because it all looks fine through the stiff boot!

The biggest favour you can do yourself is to wear good shoes every day as well as the orthotics. I have given up any hope of ever wearing heels, except a small wedge on boots, and live in a pair of Salomon trail shoes designed for overpronators. Men's ones, as my feet have spread and are too wide for women's. Stylish!

 

[baileymoo]

I am 20 and have had this all my life. I now have arthiritus in my hip and knee and also have raynauds as well. I think i need putting down too!
I have to wear insoles all the time now and also support splints. Honestly listen and take all advice they give you, they messed up with me and we are now suing them as i am 20 and crippled for life. Do as many exercises a day as you can and also do yoga, it helps with the muscle stiffness. I ride with my toes sticking out as its comfier, less strain, and also quite natural to me. I still showjump/event and although it hurts all the time, it doesnt hurt any more or less when i ride. I also have those spring stirrups, cant remember what they are called but they take a lot of strain when you are riding so help out my ankles.
Before i was diagnosed i used to get really peeved off with my horse as he was stiff and uneven on one rein, i now know its due to my hips being unlevel and he is only trying to do what i am telling him bless him. So keep this in mind as i feel awful now for blaming my horse.
But good luck with your treatment and hope it all gets sorted soon

 

[Fransurrey]

Baileymoo, do you mean the Sprenger stirrups? I was wondering if these would help. I did do some riding today with feet hanging out, but Sundays bring out all the morons, so I ended up putting them back in, 'just-in-case'.

Podiatrist recommended pilates, as my core strength is pants (shown by my pressue scan wandering after 15 seconds!). I think there's yoga at work, too, so might try both.

Sorry to hear they messed up with you, BM. I haven't been given any exercises as yet, but will ask. He did thank me for 'making his life easier', as apparently, people don't go to get fixed until it's way too late. I'm on my feet all day at work, though, so no foot, no job! Once I was told about 'plantar fasciitis' (the initial diagnosis by GP), I asked straight away for the referral. Thank God for Private Health Care!