Foot
Notes On Arch Supports
By
David Fisher the Owner Of Feet Relief
Types
Of Arch Supports
Hard
Vs. Soft
Arch supports are constructed
from a wide variety of materials both hard and soft. These different
materials affect both the feel of the arch
support and the level of support it can provide.
Hard arch supports and
orthotics typically provide a higher level of support than soft
arch supports. Today,
some of the best hard arch
supports and orthotics
are constructed from polypropylene plastic. Polypropylene is rigid
enough to support the weight of an active, full grown adult but
at the same time retains enough flexibility to allow the foot to
work naturally and comfortably. These types of arch
supports can take a little getting used to, especially for people
with flat feet. Typically, the flatter one's feet the longer it
takes to get used to the arch
supports because there is a greater degree for bone and tissue
shifting.
Soft arch supports are
made from softer materials which can include soft plastic (such
as nylon), rubber, foam and occasionally cork. Soft arch
supports don't provide the same level of support as hard arch
supports or last as long but they are initially very comfortable
and easy to get used to. People with extremely sensitive feet, extremely
flat feet or extremely deformed feet (such as in the case of some
elderly people) will be more likely to try these arch
supports and stick with them because they are more comfortable.
Often times people that start off in soft arch supports gradually
work their way up into more supportive harder ones.
High
Vs. Low Arch Supports
All arch supports are
sculpted with different maximum and minimum heights making some
arch supports higher
than others. It is important to know the relative height of a given
arch support in order to gauge who it will be most effective for.
Arch supports that are
significantly lower than a person's natural arch will not give their
feet enough support and won't be of much benefit. Arch
supports that are much higher than a person's natural arch will
feel uncomfortable from the start and remain uncomfortable, even
after an extended and gradual breaking-in period.
The
Slope Of The Arch
All arch supports are
designed with a slope that goes from a higher medial side to a lower
lateral side, this is fundamental. What is not fundamental and varies
considerably from one arch
support to another is the curve of that slope. Some arch
supports have a straighter slope while others have a more concaved
slope. All things being equal, the arch
support with the straighter slope gives more support then the
arch support with the
concaved slope.
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