If you think that having flat feet is a rarity, think again: around 30% of us are walking around with collapsed arches. Some flat feet are inherited while others are the result of incessant pressure (think: high heels, marathon running, weight), and how severely they impact our lives can vary from person to person. At best, you might never know that you’ve got flat feet. At worst, you might find that you’re more prone to certain injuries like painful Achilles tendons, shin splints and swollen ankles.

I’ve spent the past decade getting faster, running longer and lifting heavier, but one thing that never changes is the shape of my foot. In fact, I’d argue that I’m more flat-footed now than when I left school. The more marathons I train for, the flatter my foot seems to get, with my Saucony running trainers creeping from a UK size 8.5 in 2016 to a now frankly ridiculous 9.5. A physio once told me that my collapsed arches were probably a key player in the kinds of running injuries I kept picking up (I’ve been plagued with chronic Achilles tendonitis for ages and am prone to rolled ankles).

As active people, it’s really important that we have a strong and stable base. Our feet work hard, whether we’re strength training, yoga-ing or running. So, does it matter if we have collapsed arches and if it does, what can we do to rebuild them?