Q: I am 20 years old and have mid-arch pain on my instep. I have very flat feet and this only started recently with my new custom orthotics. Should I go back and get some new ones made?
A: Depending on your flat foot flexibility, you may not need orthotics at all and often custom orthotics can increase the pain in a rigid flat foot deformity. You might try no orthotics at all with some good calf stretches to see if this lessens your instep pain.
Reference: Maryse Bouchard, MD and Vincent S. Mosca, MD. Flatfoot Deformity in Children and Adolescents: Surgical Indications and Management. In Journal of American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. October, 2014. Vol. 22, No. 10. Pp. 623-632.