How to build arches in my feet?

Doing ballet should help. I had the flattest feet ever, but took ballet from the age of 3 until 11, and my feet don’t have high arches, but I do have an arch. I think arch is partly genetic, and partly training. Just like how swimmers have broader shoulders. I have always been able to stand on my feet for very long periods, and I have a strong point. I never did do point in ballet, because I quit just as I would have been moving on, but I think I could have done it. I still love ballet, and I think the grace, posture, awareness of our body position, and discipline is invaluable.

Thank you :D
Would it be too late to start ballet in college? (I’m in my second to last year of high school now)

Foot arches are primarily formed by bone. At your age, you might be able to change the appearance slightly by exercising foot ligaments and tendons, but don’t expect drastic results.

In college you won’t be able to be a professional ballerina, but I think you will be able to do the ballet for fun and exercise. In my adult classes sometimes people started at age 40+. adult beginner classes are more relaxed, and most everyone is their for exercise not perfect form.

What you probably don’t realize if you have never taken a ballet class is when we point our foot is towards the side. For instance if I extend my leg in front of me and point my foot, the top of my foot is not towards the ceiling. My foot is almost resting on my pinky toe, which allows for an easier extension of the foot then trying to point straight forward. Does that make sense? If you are just pointing forward it might feel impossible to you with very flat feet.

Ballet will help with every type of dance, and swimming and diving, and all sorts of things.

One warning, if you are not very flexible be warned that some teachers do floor stretches at the beginning of class before warming up, which I basically can barely do. Be careful not to pull anything. It is completely unnessary to stretch before class in my opinion. However, always stretch after to avoid muscle soreness.

Ballet positions are mostly in Fench, so you might want to know the basics, just to feel a little ahead of the game when you start. Plus know the 5 positions. There must be youtube with the basics. No matter what the teacher will show you what to do, she won’t just call stuff out if you are a beginners class.

Why wait until college? At 16, I am assuming you are around 16 years old, it will be easier to influence your feet than at 18 or 19.

Dance, ballet.

When I was a kid back in the ‘70’s, my older brother had flat feet and the foot doctor ran him through a series of supports to build an arch in his feet. They were taped to his feet and mom would re-tape them every day. Needless to say he was not a hobbit during this treatment. I don’t remember how long he was on each step but I assume he developed an arch, or they gave up. I don’t know if that practice is still in use, but in retrospect, I liken it to chinese foot binding.

Google toe raises and do then when you wake up in the morning, during an afternoon break and in the evening. You can start at maybe 25 and work yourself up to longer sets. They won’t give you a high arch but they will tone, strengthen and limber your foot muscles.

I’ve done these for decades to offset the strains/damages of running and also dancing and credit them with keeping my feet and toes looking normal and my calves and legs being taut. One thing though, if you’ve already muscly calves, these exercises will buff out your calves even more.