Learning How Arch Supports Work Podiatrists recommend Spenco arch supports for their patients who're looking to increase their performance when they run or walk. They also recommend increased arch support when a patient spends a lot of time on their feet, either walking or standing, and begins to develop chronic tiredness or soreness. Most patients are happy enough to buy arch supports for their shoes, but do not always understand the mechanism of why arch supports work. For this reason, they sometimes underestimate the need for arch support and some even fail to heed their podiatrist’s instructions. One common misconception of arch support inserts is they function to help make the shoe softer and more comfortable. People think about the inside of their shoes turning from the equivalent of a hardwood floor to the spongy feel of the gymnast’s mat. But that idea is untrue. The confusion may come from the fact that there are gel inserts or perhaps the equivalent that are made to provide comfort for the foot, however this isn't the purpose of an arch support. All this confusion about arch supports comes from the concept that inserts will fill the entire shoe, not just the arch area. But, this occurs because the proper support inside the shoe will happen when the inserts stay in the same place all the time, while also offering increased surface area for appropriate friction. They're made this way instead of actually gluing the arch supports down that can raise issues, in the functional and logistical areas. Another theory about arch supports is that they simply match the profile of the insoles of the shoe more closely to the foot, particularly for those that have higher arches than the others do. This theory can be backed up a little with some scientific facts. Without having the appropriate arch support, the vast majority of your body weight will rest on the balls and heels of one's feet. This essentially equals about one third of the total foot area. This concentrates the body weight on these pressure points. The body weight can be more equally distributed when you've got insoles that fit the entire foot, or by utilizing inserts. This may have some rational to it, much of the pains and aches that individuals feel don't happen at these pressure points but in the actually arch of the foot. The real mechanics of the foot come from the design of the foot as a bipod. Imagine a leg as a stick, and after that include a short second stick in line with the first to represent the heel. Now at the junction of the sticks, add a third stick downward representing the ball of the foot. You can now see how the bulk of the weight is put on the heel of your foot instead of the arch or ball. The ball of the foot exists to provide a second support point when the foot is walking or climbing. The arch isn't one of your foots support points, instead it is a type of hinge for the ball. Therefore, its main function is flexibility instead of support. The forces on this hinge are what cause soreness after having a lot of exercise. Proper foot supports alleviate the strain on the hinge, and lower the level of stress for the arch. High-tier inserts like Spenco arch supports are made with these mechanics in mind, to lessen the strain on the arch and in turn reduce tiredness and soreness. Feet Relief's Spenco arch supports are custom molded for very long lasting comfort and relief for flat, fallen and low arches with a customized moldable, slide free and odor free material. Check out http://www.feetrelief.com/ to find out more information regarding Feet Relief. Feet Relief
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Learning How Arch Supports Work Document Tags: spenco arch supports, spenco orthotic arch supports http://www.feetrelief.com/
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