Is arch support good for everyone? - Podiatry and Foot Pain Community - Upstep (2024)

FAQs

Are arch supports good for everyone? ›

We may conclude from the studies and professional opinion that arch support is never a quick fix for pronation, performance, or injury concerns. However, specialized orthotics recommended by experienced experts can aid with certain ailments or injuries.

1. Use an arch support in your shoes. Use an arch support that matches your arch as close as possible. The closer the arch support conforms to the arch of your foot the better it will be at decreasing pressure between the joints on top of your foot.

If you wear arch supports that are the wrong height long enough, you could start to feel worse pain, body aches, and develop injuries. If you are a runner, proper arch support is imperative. For some runners with normal feet, arch support may affect performance and make them run slower.

No matter your arch height, your feet require arch support. Even flat feet need support. And unless your shoes are custom, they don't have support built in. Adding insoles can with arch support that matches the contours of your feet will make the difference.

Sketchers DO NOT have appropriate stability in the upper fabric and the heel counter to complement an orthotic. As such, you will probably find the orthotic redundant, or in worse case contributing to the cause of injury. Remember, an orthotic does 50% of the work. The shoe does the other 50%.

They were not fitted properly

An improper fit is The most common reason these devices cause any discomfort. This problem is likely with off-the-shelf devices that incorrectly conform to your foot shape. Occasionally, custom orthotics may also fit incorrectly, leading to rubbing or aching.

Many people don't know the difference between orthotics and basic arch support when it comes to orthopedic inserts. One significant difference is that orthotics are custom-made to address your foot's biomechanical faults or provide advanced arch support.

Flat feet pain can be temporarily addressed by stretching, strengthening, and providing support to your arches. But for long term comfort, you'll need to add firm arch support insoles to your footwear. A product with cushy foam or gel that doesn't provide arch support won't relieve your pain.

Heel pain can be a sign that you need custom-made arch supports. A common reason for heel pain is plantar fasciitis, a condition affecting the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot.

What does too much arch support feel like? ›

If the insole's arch height is too high for your feet, it will feel like there is a golf ball in your shoe or the insole is digging into your arch.

Arch supports are not only for adults. Children experiencing supination, foot pain, and over-pronation will benefit from wearing arch supports.

To prove this, studies have found that the odds of deformities like bunions and flat feet are far less common in people who spend more time barefoot rather than in supportive shoes. What's more, injuries in your feet are more likely to occur for people who use supportive shoes regularly.

Your insoles may be hurting your feet because they're not the right arch height, are too rigid or too flexible, are not the right style for your footwear, or the arch placement isn't working for your feet. For insoles that don't hurt your feet, looking for ones that offer a choice of arch heights.