Short answerNot for flat feet that do not hurt. In the research, insoles did no better than ordinary shoes, and most children do not need treatment.
Probably does not help
What it is
Many young children have a low arch that flattens when they stand. Most of the time this is flexible flat feet. The arch shows when the child is on tiptoe or sits, and it usually improves as the child grows. Insoles, also called foot orthoses, are shaped inserts. They can be custom made or bought ready made.
What the research shows
pooled 16 trials with 1,058 children aged from under 1 to 19 years with flexible flat feet. In healthy children with flat feet that did not hurt, insoles made little or no difference to whether the child was free of pain at one year, compared with ordinary shoes. This was true of custom and ready made insoles. The reviewers concluded that expensive custom insoles for painless flat feet have no supporting evidence.
of 178 children aged 7 to 11 compared custom insoles, ready made insoles and no insoles. After 12 months, there were no clear differences in pain, motor skills, exercise efficiency or how the children felt about themselves.
The picture may differ for children with arthritis of childhood and painful flat feet. In a small number of trials, insoles may have improved pain and function, but the evidence was weak.
Risks and effort
Insoles are low risk. Some children find them uncomfortable, and some stop wearing them. The main drawback is the time and effort of fitting them for a problem that usually needs no treatment.
What usually works instead
For flat feet that do not hurt, reassurance and comfortable shoes with room for the foot are enough. Active play and barefoot time are good for foot development. See a doctor if the foot is painful, stiff, or the child limps. See Flatfeet.
Questions people ask
Will my child’s flat feet get better?
Most flexible flat feet improve with age, and many arches develop by the early school years.
When should I worry?
See a doctor if the foot is painful, the arch stays flat on tiptoe, the foot is stiff, or the flat foot is on one side only.
Do flat feet cause problems later in life?
There is no good evidence that painless flexible flat feet cause problems in adulthood.
What about adults with flat feet and pain?
This page covers children only. Adults with a painful flat foot should have it assessed, because the cause can differ.
Sources
Select a source to read what the study or guideline found, in plain words, with a link to the original.
Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Next review due October 2028.
