Tag Archives: arch supports

Do the feet need arch supports?

Our feet evolved to walk on soft and also irregular surfaces. Our feet didn't evolve to walk on concrete. This mismatch is what many think may be the reason behind the majority of the foot problems that we now have today. The cement and the need for protection from the environment means that we have to use footwear. Those footwear may well deform and weaken feet. This can lead to deformities of the toes, bunions as well as collapsed arches because of the weakness. This can lead to controversy of if our footwear must have arch supports constructed into them or does it imply we should end using shoes and do exercises to strengthen the arch muscle groups. In all probability either end of the spectrum is certainly not functional. The foot is really capable of supporting itself well and has its very own inbuilt mid-foot (arch) supporting mechanism called the windlass mechanism. Yet, will be the long-term wearing of shoes interfering with this mechanism, then your foot may require some extra support constructed into them or other choices for arch support.

There are many different possibilities to support the the arch of the foot if that additional arch support is necessary. You can use the over-the-counter supports that you can buy at retail stores. These commonly are very effective for those that have a minor problem and are a much better alternative as opposed to the more costly ones. The only problem with this method is that it may be a bit hit-and-miss concerning if whatever you get meets just what your foot’s posture which means that it could or will not help. Another option is to see a podiatrist to get a custom-made support. The podiatrist will be able to work out precisely what your foot requires and then take a plaster model or even do a digital scan and send this to a foot orthotic laboratory to have them to produce a custom-made foot orthotic that suits your feet shape properly and has inclusions in affect the foot how the podiatrist determines it should be altered. The scientific evidence is clear that these types of foot orthotics do work significantly better, but they are most likely not more effective for the less complicated easier conditions where the mass produced foot supports can work for.

Generally there are additional choices. You can find exercises that can be done to aid support the feet and so they should be suggested. Even so, should you have a painful problem now, it will take a while for the exercises that can help and foot orthotics will work now at helping the the symptoms, so its going to be a trade off should you prefer a bit of both in the early phases. Another choice is shoes that has some arch support inbuilt. Quite a few running footwear have arch supports designed directly into them and could be useful for this. This footwear share the same volume of arch support as the pre-made arch supports but may be considered a useful option. Several models of flip-flops also provide an arch support built into them and could very well be well worth a try. Even those that make use of foot supports also like making use of these kinds of flip-flops vary things.