# PSA: Flat feet suck. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 26, 2004, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psa-flat-feet-suck/281632 "2004-12-26T01:55:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psa-flat-feet-suck/281632/21 "2004-12-28T05:46:29Z")
Do you put your orthotics in your ski boots? Or do the orthotics actually change your feet so that ski boots are more comfortable? I had to pull the insoles out of my shoes and replace them with orthotics - I’m not sure I can do that with rental ski boots. ---
**Author:** ![Graycat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Graycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Graycat)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psa-flat-feet-suck/281632/22 "2004-12-28T14:16:08Z")
I have extremely high arches, and I’ve worn orthotics for years. When I got my rigid orthotics, I was told to break them in gradually, no more than an hour the first day, working up by increments of 1/2 hour to the longest I could wear them comfortably. I was not able to wear them for more than 4 hours at a time comfortably, so I was switched to semi-rigid, which have worked well. My podiatrist told me to wear the orthotics in all my shoes and boots. Usually, they fit fine with whatever insole is in their already. I even wore them in my cross-country ski boots. My orthotics generally last for about a year and a half before they need replacing. ---
**Author:** ![RumMunkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@RumMunkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RumMunkey)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psa-flat-feet-suck/281632/23 "2004-12-28T14:54:53Z")
I’m no MD, but I’ll register another vote here for **plantar fasciitis**. I developed that a few years ago when working an on-your-feet retail job. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psa-flat-feet-suck/281632/24 "2004-12-28T17:47:28Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > Do you put your orthotics in your ski boots? Or do the orthotics actually change your feet so that ski boots are more comfortable? I had to pull the insoles out of my shoes and replace them with orthotics - I’m not sure I can do that with rental ski boots. I don’t have full-foot orthotics; mine end at the ball of my foot, which makes it much easier for them to fit into most shoes and boots. If yours are full-foot, maybe you should spring for the second pair and get the smaller ones. My doctor made mine so they’d fit into women’s shoes that didn’t have much to them. I bet those (I think they might be considered athletic orthotics) would work for your ski boots. Me, I gave up on skiing and skating. It’s not worth the pain. I wonder if I’m going to be one of those old ladies who has to go around the grocery store in one of those motorized cart thingies-- already, an hour and a half in the grocery store hurts, especially in the wrong shoes. Can’t go shopping in sandals or flip flops in the summer or I’ll be very sorry. I don’t understand how some of us flat-footers can walk around just fine, while others of us still suffer, even with orthotics. My brother and I both have tibial torsions, which probably makes it worse. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psa-flat-feet-suck/281632.md?page=1)