How to Determine Your Arch Height at Home - Upstep Answers (2024)

Your arch height affects your foot health and your overall body mechanics. While a regular arch height is slightly elevated above the ground when standing, you may also have high arches or flat feet.

Generally, high arches are less common than flat feet, occurring in only about 20% of the population. You have high arches if there’s a significant distance between your foot arch and the floor when you stand or walk.

High arches can cause serious foot problems ranging from minor discomfort to deformities. These include ankle instability, calluses, claw toes, hammertoes, metatarsalgia, plantar fasciitis, and sprains.

Ways to Test Your Arch Height

The earlier you understand what kind of arch height you have, the better you’ll know how it affects your body and how to handle it. You can determine your arch height by performing the wet test.

Begin the wet test by dipping your feet in water in either a basin or a tub. Then, you will step out onto cardboard, concrete, or heavy paper and observe your footprint.

You have a normal arch if the middle part of your arch is about half filled. You have a flat arch if your entire sole is visible on the imprint. Conversely, if the heel and the toe area are the observable points, you likely have high arches.

No matter your arch type, comfort is possible with the appropriate arch support. A low arch height insole will support and provide comfort for flat feet. Regular feet go with the medium arch insoles, while a high arch will require a high arch insole. Beyond this, if your foot arch type causes pain, stretching the arch of your foot can also provide significant relief.

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How to Determine Your Arch Height at Home - Upstep Answers (2024)

FAQs

How to determine your arch height? ›

Insert your foot into the pan to wet the soles of your feet. Step onto a piece of paper and look down. Flat (Low) arch: If you see the arch mostly filled in then your foot is most likely collapsing inward when you run. Normal arch: If you see about half of your arch region then you have the most common foot type.

How do you measure your arch at home? ›

Wet footprint test

Dip your foot in water and step on a piece of cardboard or a piece of colored construction paper and then examine how wide the middle part of your footprint is. If you have flat arches, your footprint will be very wide in the middle because more of your foot touches the ground.

How to figure arch height? ›

You can determine your arch height by performing the wet test. Begin the wet test by dipping your feet in water in either a basin or a tub. Then, you will step out onto cardboard, concrete, or heavy paper and observe your footprint. You have a normal arch if the middle part of your arch is about half filled.

What determines a high arch? ›

Many people are born with high arches, so genetics is certainly a factor. However, in other cases, high arch feet are a symptom of another condition, such as: Spina bifida. Muscular dystrophy.

What is the formula for the arch height index? ›

The arch index is then calculated by dividing the midfoot region (B) by the entire footprint area (i.e. Arch index = B/[A+B+C]). There are several clinical and radiological methods available to classify foot posture in research, however there is no clear strategy for selecting the most appropriate measurements.

What is the standard height of an arch way? ›

Generally, the ideal height of an arched doorway will depend on the ceiling height in the room. If possible, it is best to make sure that the arch reaches at least five or six inches above the top of any door frame.

How to tell if your foot has a high arch? ›

Here's a simple way to determine if you have high arches: Stand on a piece of paper with wet feet until the water sinks into the paper. Step off the paper and observe the shape. If you have a high arch, the shape on the paper will only show the ball and heel of your foot with nothing in between.

How do you find the measure of an arch? ›

Arc and Angle Measures

To find the length of an arc, multiply the circle's circumference by the arc's angle, then divide by 360 (arc angle / 360). The angle of an arc is identified by its two endpoints, written as mAB.

What is the formula of arch? ›

Arc length = (θ/360) of 2πr = (θ/360) × 2πr = rθ × π/180. This formula represents the arc length when the angle is measured in degrees. The length of an arc can be determined using different formulas, depending on the unit used to measure the central angle.

How do I calculate height? ›

The person helping can either place a flat straight object flat on the head and mark the wall, as before, or simply hold a pencil flat against the top of the person's head and mark the wall directly. Measure the distance from the floor to the spot on the wall to find out the height.

How do you determine your foot arch? ›

One thing to know before you buy is what type of foot arch you have. If you're not sure about your foot arch type, dip your foot in water, step on a piece of cardboard and examine the print that remains. After examining the print, use the Determine Your Foot Arch chart.

Are high arch feet attractive? ›

Some people may find high arches aesthetically pleasing, while others may not have a strong preference. Ultimately, the appearance of one's feet, including their arches, is a personal matter, and what matters most is maintaining foot health and comfort.

Do arches get higher with age? ›

The most obvious sign your foot is aging is its changing size and shape, says Williams. Over time, the body's ligaments and tendons lose their strength and ability to spring back. In feet, this manifests as a decrease or ''falling'' of the arch, which flattens and lengthens the foot and toes.

What is the ideal arch size? ›

For most openings, soft archway usually range from 8% - 16% of the width. For example if you had a 72 ½” opening, a good rise would be anywhere from 6 to 12 inches (72.5 x Width %). The rise of an elliptical arch is dependent upon the width of the opening in order for the elliptical arch to keep its shape.

How do you know if you have a low foot arch? ›

Check if you have flat feet

To see if you have flat feet, check the inner sides of your feet while you're standing up. If you have flat feet, your feet will be flat on the ground. You do not have flat feet if the inside part of your foot is raised off the ground (this is called the arch).

Do high arches mean flat feet? ›

High arches are commonly the same as flat feet, meaning you are generally born or develop with higher arches. There are some conditions which cause high arches such as those with diabetes or nerve dysfunction into the feet. This happens to the minority of feet however.

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