Can physiotherapy fix my flat feet and prevent long-term ankle or knee issues? I've had flat feet since childhood and now, I am 32, I've started noticing occasional knee and ankle pain after long walks or runs. Are there specific physiotherapy exercises that can strengthen the right muscles and improve my foot alignment?

Ans: This is quite common due to the cutting off of circulation that happens. Ensure that you get up and move around every half hour and do good stretching exercises everyday.

Ans: Hello Ashok,
It is best you visit a good physiotherapist or a podiatrist once. They can do a detailed evaluation of your feet for any sensory loss and check the muscle strength of the feet muscles. Accordingly they will suggest some exercises and also you may need some orthotic support in your shoes which they can help you with.
All the best!

Ans: Dear Mr. Dileep. Thank you for your query. As a physiotherapist, I recommend consulting a physiotherapist first for a personalized treatment plan. Physiotherapist can help you focus on weight management to reduce stress on your ankles and engage in non-weight-bearing exercises like swimming or cycling to stay active without increasing pain. Ankle strengthening and mobility exercises, such as ankle circles and heel raises, can help improve joint stability. Continue using knee caps during walks for relief and wear supportive, cushioned footwear. Ice therapy and elevating your ankle will assist with pain and swelling management. Wishing you a happy recovery!

Ans: Dear Mr. Manoj. Thank you for your query. I would strongly suggest you to visit a Physiotherapist near you to get proper assessment and evaluation. Based on this the physiotherapist will prescribed exercise, assistive device and ergonomics changes. I wish you a quick recovery.

Ans: Morning heel pain like you described is very common. It is often due to stiffness in the foot muscles after long rest (sometimes called plantar fascia tightness).

Don’t worry—yoga and simple care can help. But you must be gentle.

First, before getting out of bed:
Move your feet slowly. Point toes up and down, rotate ankles. This reduces sudden pain when you step down.

Yoga practices you can do:

1. Ankle rotation – 10 times each side, very slow.
2. Toe stretch – sit and gently pull toes towards you.
3. Tadasana (standing) – improves weight balance on feet.
4. Vajrasana (if comfortable) – improves circulation in legs.
5. Calf stretch (wall support) – reduces heel strain.
6. Pavanamuktasana (lying) – improves blood flow and relaxation.

Simple daily care:
Use warm water soaking for feet. Avoid walking barefoot on hard floor. Wear soft, supportive footwear.

Very important: do not ignore pain and don’t do strong poses suddenly. Wrong practice can increase strain.

Your body needs a personalized plan based on your condition. I strongly suggest learning from a qualified yoga or meditation coach instead of practicing on your own.

With the right guidance and regular practice, pain can reduce slowly.

R. Pushpa, M.Sc (Yoga)
Online Yoga & Meditation Coach
Radiant YogaVibes
https://www.instagram.com/pushpa_radiantyogavibes/