The F20 foot is often characterized by a medium arch that looks normal when sitting, but collapses during walking due to excessive flexibility.

In this customer’s case, the foot appeared healthy at rest but showed high mobility and pronation under load, making standard solutions less effective.

Key traits of this customer’s foot:

• Medium arch at rest, collapsing under weight

• Significant pronation and outward sway

• Pain and irritation along the 5th metatarsal and top of the foot

• One-sided discomfort, especially on the left

The best orthotics for flexible feet often need gentle support, not aggressive correction.

Before the workshop, the customer had already gone through two sets of new orthotics in 3–4 months, both designed to control pronation and stabilize the arch.

What was used:

• Metatarsal bars and anatomical pads

• Longitudinal arch bars

• Cuboid wedges and scaphoid pads

The result? The new orthotics failed to provide relief for the left foot, leaving discomfort unresolved. The customer ended up returning to their five-year-old pair of orthotics, the “OG”, which though imperfect, provided the most comfort so far.

Rather than piling on corrections, Tony pivoted to an accommodative approach focused on comfort and function.

Step 1: Strip It Down

• Removed all aggressive corrective elements

• Focused support down the middle of the foot, sometimes called the “fourth arch”, instead of forcing medial or lateral correction

Step 2: Add Targeted Support

• A metatarsal bar spanning the full forefoot, distributing pressure evenly

• A moderate longitudinal arch bar for midfoot stability

• A subtle cuboid bar to balance weight without overcorrecting

Step 3: Choose the Right Materials

• Firm yet springy met bars for daily comfort

• Thin but effective cuboid support, just enough to guide a highly mobile foot

Small, strategic modifications often solve pain in flexible feet better than rigid, corrective orthotics.

The workshop proved that less can be more. For feet that are already flexible and prone to over-compensation, aggressive correction can backfire.

This approach worked for the customer. The stripped-down, accommodative orthotic provided relief where correction-heavy designs had failed.

When orthotics make foot pain worse, it may be due to overcorrection rather than lack of support.

If you have a flexible F20 foot or experience discomfort along the arch, 5th metatarsal, or top of your foot, we can help. At Chiappetta Shoes, we provide free in-person assessments and craft each orthotic custom in-house. No generic inserts, just personalized solutions designed around your unique foot structure and movement patterns, so you can get back to comfortable, supported steps every day.