Funny feet of two girls sitting on a pavement in green park

The arch of our foot is the area located at the bottom of the foot, between the ball and heel. Your arches are one of the most essential structures of our feet as it bears the weight of our body when we stand or walk. Often, these arches can cause poor bio-mechanics that can cause pain in the knee, back, and hip. This is where arch supports are beneficial.

 

Types of Arches

Try this method to determine what type of arch you have:

 

  1. Pour water in a shallow pan that has enough water that all parts of the bottom of your feet will get wet.
  2. Step in the water then carefully remove your foot from the pan. Step onto something that will create footprints like a brown bag or cardboard.
  3. Remove your foot from the cardboard. What did you see?

 

If the middle portion of your footprint is halfway filled with a noticeable curve around the arch, your arches are at the proper height, and it can distribute impact when you walk or do other activities.

If what you see is only your toes, ball of the foot, and heels without much in between then you have high arches. This means that your feet will have a hard time absorbing the impact of your steps and may require cushioning.

If it looks like a complete foot, then you have flat feet. This is great for absorbing shock, but you’ll often experience pain in the knees and legs. Flat feet can also cause you to pronate. When you pronate, your feet tend to rotate far too inward or far too outward in each step. This movement adds pressure to your shin, thigh, knee, back, and pelvis.

Now that you’ve seen what your arches look like, here’s why you need arch supports.

If you suffer from chronic conditions in your feet or have persistent pain in the back, hip, or knees, you may benefit from getting arch support. Arch supports are designed to support the arches of your feet properly. These support help lessen the pain and make walking much more comfortable.

Arch supports are great for creating balance and support. They help improve posture and balance that helps alleviate foot pain and problems related to imbalance or lack of proper support.

Not only that arch supports can help alleviate pain, but it also helps prevent your arches from collapsing. When your arches collapse, it could lead to plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis occurs when there is too much pressure on your feet.

Arch supports can be beneficial to those who get constant pain in their feet. Our feet are essential in our day-to-day life; that is why it needs to be as pain-free as possible. Although sometimes expensive shoes and surgery can help alleviate the pain, oftentimes arch supports can do the trick. It’s affordable, easy to use, and a non-invasive approach to treat foot ailments such as plantar fasciitis. In cases where you do need professional help, arch supports can help you get by until your doctor has come up with a treatment plan.