Yes, you can walk the Camino de Santiago with flat feet, most people do, often without any problems. Flat (pronated) feet only cause trouble when the inward roll becomes excessive, which can lead to shin splints, knee pain or heel pain. Supportive insoles, the right footwear and stronger hips usually keep symptoms in check. Here’s how to tell if you have flat feet and what to do about them.
Flat feet rarely stop anyone from walking the Camino. If you’re still wondering whether you’re ready for the distances, read am I fit enough to walk the Camino?
What are Flat-feet?
Having flat (pronated) feet means that your foot tends to roll inwards when you walk, run or even stand. For example; when you walk, the first point of contact is your heel, then the whole foot comes into contact with the ground – this is where the foot collapses inwards, giving you the flat foot. Finally the last point of contact is the front of the foot (forefoot and toes), this propels you forward, allowing you to continue on walking. Everybody experiences flat feet when walking and running etc! This is needed for shock absorption when coming in contact with the ground. It’s also needed for stabilising and adjusting the foot when walking on different terrain. But when the rolling in of the foot becomes exaggerated, that’s when someone may start to experience problems with their feet, knees, hips and even low back. Remember, the feet carry the entire weight of your body, so when the foot collapses inwards, it’s the weight of your body that collapses inwards too. So what happens next? Your body will start to compensate in attempt to regain its stability i.e. fight against the collapsing of the inner foot. This can have a profound effect on the rest of the body especially at the knees and hips.
Injuries associated with Flat-feet
Shin Splint: this is when you experience pain along the front of the shin on your lower leg when walking or running for a certain period of time and it is relieved at rest.
Knee Pain: typically the pain is more prominent along the inside of the knee but can also occur at the front under or behind the knee cap and is aggravated when walking or climbing stairs.
Plantar fasciitis: a common form of heel pain especially when standing up and walking first thing in the morning. It is caused by the straining of the ligament that supports the arch of the foot which will eventually become weak, swollen and inflamed.
Achilles Tendonitis: an overuse injury of the Achilles Tendon. This is the narrow, taught band of soft tissue that connects the heel with the rest of the calf muscle (the muscle located at the back of the lower leg)
Bunions: a bony bump that forms at the base of your big toe. It forms when your big toe pushes against your next toe, forcing the joint of your big toe to get bigger and stick out. The skin over the bunion might then become red and sore.
Tarsal tunnel syndrome: a painful condition of the foot caused by pressure placed along a nerve that passes along a tunnel like structure just below the bony aspect along the inside of the ankle. Symptoms include burning pain that can radiate into the arch of the foot, heel and sometimes the toes. Pins and needles and/or numbness may also be felt along the sole of the foot.
Several of these injuries have their own guides in our Camino preparation series — see our advice on shin splints and heel pain, and learn how to avoid blisters on long walking days.
How do I know if I have Flat-feet?
1. Stand up and look at your feet!
Do you have a clear arch on the inside of the foot? If so then you do not have flat feet. However, if the innermost part of the sole touches the floor, then you may have flat feet.
2. Look at the soles of your running/ every day shoes?
If they are worn on the inside of the sole in particular, then you may have flat feet.
3. The wet foot test!
Wet your feet and walk along a section of paving and look at the footprints. A normal foot print will leave a print of the heel, a slender inner portion and a wider forefoot (If you have flat feet then there may be little distinction between the heel and forefoot i.e. the middle part of the foot print is quite wide and not narrow.
4. Visit a podiatrist or Physical Therapist who also specialises in orthotics!
They will be able to measure exactly the forces and angles of the foot whilst running and walking. Please keep in mind! You may have flat feet, but that DOES NOT mean that you need CUSTOMISED ORTHOTICS that will cost you hundreds of euro. Please read below!
How to manage flat feet for the Camino
- Buy insoles with inside support at your local pharmacy.
Scholl Adjustable Gel Arch Supports are quite good which allow you to change the support to light, medium or firm.
Remember it can take week or so to get used to the insoles. Wear them at intervals throughout the day until you get used to them. At the beginning they feel awkward and uncomfortable, but in time your foot will get used to it. Start off with the light support and work your way up if you need to. - Specific Exercises
There are Specific Exercises you can do to strengthen the arch of the foot to prevent it from collapsing in. Theoretically they should work, but it still has not been scientifically proven to be effective. More research is required.
- Strengthen your Hips
By strengthening your buttocks and other core muscles, you will improve the alignment of the hips when walking, running, jumping etc Weak hips are very common especially among those who sit for long periods throughout the day or who are generally in-active
These tips are a great start, but they’re just one part of keeping your feet happy on the trail — see our complete guide to footcare on the Camino for sock choice, blister prevention and daily foot routines.
*For more information about the Camino de Santiago or to book your Camino holiday, contact our travel specialists.
Can I walk the Camino with flat feet?
Yes. Most people with flat feet walk the Camino without issues. Problems only arise if the inward roll is excessive — supportive insoles, good footwear and stronger hips usually prevent pain.
Check the inside arch when standing, look for wear on the inner sole of your shoes, or do the wet-foot test: if the middle of the footprint is wide rather than narrow, you likely have flat feet.
Not necessarily. Many people manage well with affordable over-the-counter arch-support insoles. Custom orthotics costing hundreds of euro are only needed in some cases — see a podiatrist before spending on them.
Excessive pronation can contribute to shin splints, knee pain, plantar fasciitis (heel pain) and Achilles tendonitis — the kind of overuse injuries that long walking days can trigger.
What are the best insoles for flat feet?
Look for insoles with built-in arch support; adjustable ones let you start with light support and build up. Allow a week or so to get used to them, wearing them in intervals at first.
Strengthening the foot arch and especially the hips and core can improve alignment and reduce strain, though evidence on reversing flat feet is limited. They’re a low-risk addition to your preparation.
I am 69 yrs old and I have flat feet since I was born.
I do exercise a lot; tennis, biking and long walks.
I already did the Camino from Leon to Santiago ( close to 300 km ) in 2017 as well as 510 km in Ireland ( 2018 ). Both ways using the helpful and professional services of Caminoways.
One year ago I had tendonitis on my right ankle when I started wearing an ortopedic insole and the pain gradually decreased and ceased completely two weeks ago.
since then I have felt better without using the insole.
How should I proceed from now on: Do I USE the insole or NOT?
Many thanks and regards,
Cesar Frossard
Hi Cesar, thanks for your message and delighted you’ve enjoyed your past experience with us. To be honest, I wouldn’t want to give you the wrong information here and perhaps your doctor, physio or other health professional would be better placed to answer that for you. All the best