How Arch Supports Helps Prevent Foot Pain
Socks Help Reduce Foot Pain
Whether you’re working on your feet all day or putting in that extra mile on a long run, foot pain happens to everyone. There are plenty of modern remedies to help reduce foot pain. Hot baths, icing your feet, or taking pain killers are all ways to address pain, but not prevent it. Reducing foot pain in the future means understanding where the pain is coming from.
The arch is the area on the bottom of your foot that bridges the heel to the toes. This area is made up of tarsal and metatarsal bones connected by ligaments and tendons. Usually, arches are beneficial, as they help support the weight of the body when the spine resembles perfect posture. But not all arches are made the same!
The Different Anatomies of Arches
One can describe the arch of the foot under 3 main types: neutral, high, and flat.
Neutral Arch: usually the most efficient as they are neither too high nor too low. Those with neutral arches usually complain the least about foot pain.
High Arch: generally, these accompany very rigid feet, as the arch sits higher than normal. This anatomy creates excessive pressure and pain on the heel and forefoot.
Flat Feet: Flat feet generally have little to no arch at all. These feet sit very low to the ground which offers limited weight support. Those with flat feet could potentially encounter tendonitis or knee pain.
What does my Arch-Anatomy Mean?
Unfortunately, a perfect neutral arch may not be forever. Those with high or neutral arches may experience a collapsed-arch and become flat-footed. Also, some people may naturally be flat-footed due to their genetics.
An unsupported flat or high arch could mean a variety of health problems should any foot pain be left untreated. Treating mild arch pain is possible through icing and rest, usually recovering after a night of limited movement. Chronic foot pain is a different story, as it can lead to plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, clawed toes, and perhaps a collapsed arch from irreparable damage to the posterior tibial tendon.
The good news is these problems are avoidable by proper arch support!
How Arch Support Increases Foot Health
Arch support offers an extra layer of support and weight-distribution to the feet. Most people accomplish this support by the use of insertable insoles. These insoles are placed on the inside of the shoe and they help support the natural curvature of the feet.
Thanks to the added balance and support from the insoles, foot pain is reduced, tendon-stress is relieved, and comfort is restored. Although, there are two problems… these insoles don’t last forever and sometimes they don’t fit perfectly with certain shoes! Fortunately, there is a solution:
Introducing Arch Support Socks
Arch support socks combine the ingenuity and support of insoles with the comfort/breathability of socks. Those with insertable insoles often complain about needing to wear shoes everywhere they go, which presents problems in house environments that don’t allow shoes. Arch support socks aim to prevent this problem by providing the necessary support but without those big cumbersome shoes. Whether you’re walking on freshly steamed carpets or kicking your feet up on the couch, your arch support stays with you.
Arch Support Should be Preventative
In conclusion, arch support prevents and controls pain before it worsens. There’s no point in dealing with the foot pain day by day, relying on baths to soothe your agony. Appropriate arch support will prolong your foot health, prevent pain from worsening, and make your workday easier!
If you’d like to learn more about your own foot health, consider talking to a local podiatrist to see if arch support is right for you. Even if you don’t experience foot pain, those that use arch supports claim they lead a more comfortable life with them.
So, before foot pain gets out of hand (or in this case, out of foot!), consider trying arch supports.