Arch Supports

The notion that our arches always need support is incorrect. They work just fine in their own natural state, as evident from our evolution, where humans have been mostly barefoot. Today, our foot naturally still has a higher arch when not bearing weight, and it flattens out considerably with weight bearing. This is especially true in those who spend a lot of time barefoot and have maintained healthy arch function. Some people confuse this normal flattening with “flat feet” or a pronation problem.

As discussed earlier, the arches of the foot are supported and maintained by muscles. The medial arch is very important, with the tibialis posterior muscle being a key support. Disturbance of muscle function due to shoe problems can lead to muscle imbalance with resulting medial arch dysfunction. In this common situation, addressing the cause of the muscle problem should be the primary treatment rather than using an arch support to take the place of the muscle’s normal activity.

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Many shoes come with generic supports that can be removed. Some can be easily taken out while others may require a little pulling. These are very general supports that usually don’t match the specific needs of your foot. In most cases, you’re better off removing as much as possible from the shoe. In addition to allowing your foot to function more freely, the shoe will become thinner and more firm, both healthy attributes. Some of these inserts are meant to cover poor manufacturing work underneath, which can be very rough—in this case it maybe uncomfortable to be in this type of shoe without the insert. If the insert is thick, you can replace it with a thinner one.