For runners and other athletes, your choice of shoe is a vital factor in preventing sports injuries. Proper cushioning, support, and motion control help to minimize your frequency and severity of injuries. But one size doesn't fit all, and what type of footwear you need depends largely on the shape of your foot. Here's the latest research from modern podiatrists about the effects of arch height.

What You Should Know About Your Arches

How Arch Height Works

The arch of your foot is the part on the inner side of the foot, about midway down its length, where the sole doesn't touch the ground or doesn't support much weight. A high arch means the bones in this area are stiff and keep the arch well off the ground — sometimes even lifting the outer edge of the foot. A low arch or flat foot occurs when flexible bones allow more of the sole to touch the ground. People naturally have a wide variety of arch heights, which you can roughly determine by looking at your footprint.

Why Arch Height Matters

The different degrees of arch flexibility change the way you run, which changes your likelihood of different types of injuries. Those with high, inflexible arches tend to run more stiffly and get more bone-related injuries. Those with low, flexible arches get more soft tissue injuries. For this reason, people with different arch shapes should use different types of shoes to protect them from the most common injuries. For high arches, podiatrists recommend shoes with lots of cushioning and support to reduce the force applied to the bones. For low arches, a shoe designed to control joint motion has been shown to reduce injuries. You may need to adjust your shoes with custom shoe inserts to get the right support for your foot shape.

If you need tailored advice to prevent foot injuries, visit Deer Creek Foot Care in O'Fallon, MO. Serving St. Charles County for 13 years, certified podiatrist Dr. Trampe offers a full range of foot care options, from simple ingrown nail care to outpatient surgery and house calls. For compassionate care using the latest medical technology, make an appointment at (636) 240-1127 or find more information about these services online.