Understanding The Importance Of Arch Support

With a wide array of available footwear, we tend to first look at the style. Beyond the aesthetics though we must look at our own two feet and prioritise arch support. After all, arch support is essential for both mobility and comfort.

In this quick guide, let’s learn about our foot arch, the dangers of not wearing arch support footwear, and the benefits of wearing footwear with arch support.

The Arch of the Foot

The arch of your foot is designed like a spring that bears your weight and absorbs the shock of each stride. Your feet are made up of two longitudinal arches (medial and lateral) and one anterior transverse arch. These arches are supported by ligaments, tendons, and the metatarsal and tarsal bones.

The arches are essential for optimal movement and cushioning the strain of our bodies on our feet. Furthermore, the arches of the feet allow for flexibility during sports like running and walking. They also help with terrain adaption, movement stabilisation, balance, and weight-bearing. 

Travelling on Surfaces

Our feet are designed to tread on sand and dirt. The dirt and sand curve our feet, filling in all of their contours. Although, this has shifted dramatically in the last thousand years as we’ve moved from walking on soft, pliable surfaces to hard and stiff grounds such as marble, concrete, tile, and hardwood floors. As a result, we now live in a vastly different world from the natural surfaces we once walked on.

While soft surfaces easily adjust to our feet and our natural footprint, harsh grounds impact our feet. With firm and harsh grounds, our feet are strained and cause a chain reaction beginning with pain and discomfort to our feet and moving to our knees and backs. 

To avoid this, proper footwear is required at all times. Whether you’re wearing dress shoes or sandals, be sure they have cushion orthotics and arch support that replicate your natural footprint and adjust to the specific arch of your feet.

Types of Foot Arches: Characteristics and Recommendations

Your foot arches are fundamental in supporting your weight when standing and play a critical role in movement while walking. Along with bones, tendons, and ligaments, arches contribute to propelling you forward with each step. Understanding the different types of arches can guide you in selecting the right support.

Normal Arch

A normal arch adequately supports your body weight and slightly rolls inward as you walk or run. Typically, specialized arch support isn’t necessary for people with a normal arch. Footwear labeled as “neutral” is generally recommended for everyday use.

Flat Arch

A flat arch, or fallen arch, is indicated by almost complete footprints that show no “instep” and is prone to overpronation—where the foot rolls inward excessively. This can lead to pain in the ankles, knees, and hips, which often originates from inadequate arch support. For those with flat arches, stabilizing arch support is essential to maintain proper alignment and prevent discomfort.

High Arch

A high arch can lead to muscle strain and joint stress throughout your body, not just in your feet. High arches may not effectively absorb shock, leading to fatigue during extended periods of walking or running. For individuals with high arches, arch supports with additional cushioning are often recommended to provide relief and support.

Implications of Inadequate Arch Support

Arch pain is a frequent symptom of poorly supported arches caused by structural abnormalities or injuries to the ligaments, tendons, bones, and muscles that comprise the foot’s arch. 

Aging, abuse, weight gain, or physical stress can all cause changes in the structural integrity of the foot arch. Additionally, various common foot illnesses can cause arch pain, which is exacerbated by poor arch support. The following are some of the most common reasons for arch discomfort:

• Overpronation

Overpronation is a phrase used to describe how your foot moves when you walk. Overpronation occurs when your heel strikes the ground first, then slides inward over the arch of your foot. 

Excessive pronation can injure the arch’s muscles, tendons, and ligaments, resulting in arch pain. Pain in the knees, hips, and back can come from overpronation.

• Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia, a ligament connecting the heel to the forefoot. The causes of inflammation occur due to stress, irritation, and discomfort on the foot tissue, such as stretching for a long time. 

Fortunately, wearing plantar fasciitis shoes with enough arch support may help alleviate symptoms by supporting the arch and relieving some of the pressure and tension on the plantar fascia.

Who Needs Arch Supports?

If you work on your feet, live an active lifestyle, or have foot, knee, hip or back pain – you should try thongs with Arch Supports.

Foot Pain

Your feet, a sophisticated assembly of bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments, carry the significant burden of your body weight. Given their complexity and the load they bear, it’s common for feet to be susceptible to injuries and persistent pain.

Knee Pain

Knee pain often stems from aging, injuries, or continuous stress on the knee joints. Incorrect walking patterns, often due to unresolved foot pain or alignment issues, can further aggravate knee injuries, leading to chronic pain and inflammation.

Hip Pain

Hip pain is frequently a result of injuries or conditions like arthritis that progressively worsen over time. Poor body mechanics or alignment issues can aggravate or even cause hip pain.

Back Pain

The lower back is a complex structure composed of muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and nerves. Disruptions or injuries to any of these components can result in significant back pain.

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis involves the inflammation of the fascia at the bottom of your foot, leading to severe heel pain. Using arch support thongs and engaging in specific exercises can significantly reduce the discomfort associated with Plantar Fasciitis.

Benefits of Footwear with Arch Support

There are numerous advantages of wearing supportive, orthopaedic footwear. Orthopaedic footwear not only supports your arch and reduces your risk of acquiring common arch ailments, but it also provides a slew of other advantages. 

They also provide arch support required to cushion your feet. Furthermore, supportive footwear can aid in the reduction of edema, swollen feet, joint pain, stiffness and improves blood circulation by properly aligning your body and preventing damage to your feet with each stride.

Conclusion

Numerous foot aches are caused by footwear that does not provide adequate support for your feet. For this reason, footwear must be cushioned to absorb the stress of each step and have arch support to adjust to your natural footprint and protect your muscles, bones, ligaments, and tendons from damage and strain. 

As you shop for new footwear, invest in supportive footwear that fits tightly around your arch to prevent common foot ailments and arch pain.

Are you looking for thongs with arch support? Shop our collection today!