Foot Pain Canberra: Do You Really Need Arch Support — or a Better Plan?
If you’re dealing with foot pain in Canberra
chances are you’ve been told one of two things:
• “You’ve got flat feet — you need arch support.”
• Or… “Just rest it and see how it goes.”
Neither is the full picture.
Foot pain isn’t just about how your foot looks — it’s about how it moves, loads, and adapts when you walk, stand, or exercise. And that’s exactly where most advice goes wrong.
Flat Feet, Arch Support & Foot Pain: What’s Actually Going On?
A low or “flat” arch isn’t automatically a problem.
Many people in Canberra walk around with low arches and zero pain.
Foot pain tends to show up when:
• the foot isn’t coping well with load
• tissues are overloaded or irritated
• movement has become stiff or poorly coordinated
In other words: function matters more than shape.
Do You Need Arch Support for Foot Pain?
Sometimes — yes.
But not always.
Arch support and orthotics can help if:
• your foot pain is sharp, persistent, or limiting walking
• tissues like the plantar fascia or tendons need unloading
• your foot feels unstable or fatigued during daily activity
They’re best used as a temporary support, not a lifetime dependency.
What often doesn’t help long-term is wearing arch support without:
• improving foot strength
• restoring ankle and toe movement
• retraining how your foot loads when you walk
How We Assess Foot Pain at The Body Lab (Canberra)
If you come in with foot pain, we don’t just look at your arch.
We assess:
• how your foot behaves when you walk
• whether your arch can lift and re-stiffen when needed
• balance and single-leg control
• ankle, knee, hip, and spine movement (yes — they matter)
Because foot pain rarely lives only in the foot.
Common Foot Pain We See in Canberra
We regularly help people with:
• heel pain & plantar fasciitis
• arch pain
• forefoot pain
• bunions and toe pain
• ankle stiffness and instability
• long-standing foot pain that “never quite settles”
Many of these improve once movement and loading patterns are addressed — not just footwear.
When to Get Help for Foot Pain
You should consider a professional assessment if:
• foot pain has lasted more than 2–3 weeks
• pain is worsening or changing shape
• walking or standing tolerance is dropping
• you’ve tried insoles, shoes, or rest with little change
Early assessment often means less intervention, not more.
Foot Pain Canberra: The Take-Home Message
• Flat feet are not automatically a problem
• Arch support can help — but it’s not always the answer
• Foot pain is usually a movement and loading issue, not just a structural one
The goal isn’t to “hold your foot up forever” — it’s to help it work better.
Looking for Foot Pain Treatment in Canberra?
At The Body Lab, we specialise in:
• movement-based foot pain assessment
• gait and walking analysis
• restoring foot, ankle, and whole-body function
📍 Canberra
