Whether you’re preparing for a vacation filled with sightseeing or looking for new shoes for your restaurant job, it’s important to find a pair with arch support. But what exactly does this term mean, and is it really crucial to your foot care choices? To learn more about the science behind arch support and how it plays into proper foot care, consult the brief guide below.

What Is Arch Support?

Your arches run along the inner half of each sole, in between your heels and the balls of your feet. For most people, this section is raised off the floor, forming a slight archway. However, if there is nothing but air between this part of your foot and the ground below, your arches will get tired and start to collapse, especially after many hours on your feet. 

When you wear shoes with arch support, the shape of the sole is designed to fill in this negative space, holding your arch up so your foot muscles and bones maintain the proper alignment. This ensures that your body weight is spread evenly across the bottom of your feet, preventing injuries in your heels, ankles, and calves. This will also allow you to maintain better balance and stability, so you can avoid the consequences of a fall. If you have “flat feet” or weak arches, arch support is essential to limiting foot pain like plantar fasciitis. 

What Should I Look for When Selecting a Shoe?

Choose sneakers, boots, clogs, or other shoe types that have closed toes and heels. Flip flops, sandals, and high heels are designed more for convenience and aesthetics than for long-term orthopedic health, and almost always lack arch support. Instead of buying shoes online, shop where you can try them on in person, and walk around the store to get a sense of how well they support your feet. 

For the ideal arch support and foot care, you’ll need to have your foot measured, as differences in arch height could affect your specific needs. From there, you can order specially designed insoles from a custom orthotics provider, which can be inserted into any shoe. In addition to a raised area for the arch, the insoles may feature indentations for the heels and balls of the feet to maximize stability.

If you want to alleviate your foot pain with custom orthotics, turn to Louise E. Tortora, DPM of Fairfield, CT. Whether you’re dealing with bunions, heel spurs, or plantar fasciitis, you can trust this orthopedist to offer unrivaled insight and lasting solutions. To learn more about her foot care services, including sports injury treatments, visit her website or call (203) 254-0093 to schedule an appointment.