Arch Supports, Orthotics, Shoe Lacing, and Other Foot Support

Many shoes have built-in or removable supports, but in addition to these many companies have developed a wide array of foot devices. The first big business for these products, New Balance Arch and Support Company, was founded in Boston in 1906.

Various types of supports are made for the heel, sole, arch, and ankle and include soft and hard materials comprised of cotton, leather, synthetics, plastic, wood, and metal. They come in the form of heel and sole supports, ankle braces, a variety of inserts, and arch supports, including orthotics and others.

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In addition to conventional supports, many forms of taping are used in all sports to help support the foot and ankle. In my clinical experience of using conservative treatments for many types of foot problems in athletes, successful outcome does not require any type of support in the vast majority of cases. Successful treatment includes correcting the cause of foot problems such as muscle imbalance. Only on occasion would additional foot support be necessary and almost always for a very short period during which time the foot can heal. In rare situations would support be necessary long term.

Stabilizing or immobilizing the foot or ankle may be necessary in the case of an emergency when the risk of serious damage is suspected and until such time as a proper assessment can be made. These situations, which are very individual, are not detailed in this book.

Unfortunately, the long-term use of foot supports by athletes is very common. Despite the potential risk of further weakening the foot and not treating the cause of the problem, these items are heavily marketed and readily available in many retail outlets and online sites. While these supports come in different sizes and shapes, these are essentially “one size fits all” products since they usually don’t specifically match the needs of the individual foot, despite what the manufacturer says.

Some people use these devices for a very short period without success, only to try one type after another with many supports ending up in the drawer unused. If you don’t specifically match a particular support to your precise needs, it could lead to long-term worsening of the condition, making proper treatment much more difficult.

In most cases, the use of shoe supports should be considered only after more conservative therapy has been tried without success and before more radical treatment is considered, such as surgery.