Arch Supports for Alignment

Arch supports claiming that they correct alignment are numerous. . arch supports . but do they actually do what they claim Some do, and some don't. The trick is to figure out what is best for you. Hopeful this article will help. When it comes to arch supports for alignment, there are two main alignment issues that need consideration. First there is the flat foot or pronated foot, then there is the high arched foot or supinated foot. Either may need arch supports for alignment, but the flat foot is the one that usually needs one that is stable enough to take the weight of the body without compressing or collapsing too much. The high arched foot may need alignment in the 'transverse' or metatarsal arch, or to help stop the foot from rolling outward, and still needs something with some substance in most cases, but they can often do better with a softer shell than the flat footed or pronated individual. Many of the over the counter products that claim to offer improved alignment do little but add a cushion layer under the feet that squishes and collapses and allows the feet to take the same position they were in without the arch supports. While this can make the feet feel better for the short term, it does nothing to correct alignment insoles. Soft foam and soft gel insoles are examples of this. The stiff, high arched foot may get more relief from these than the flat foot, but as already mentioned, even with high arches there should be a little substance to the arch support. True correction of alignment requires a firm enough base in the arch supports to force the foot to take a slightly different position (or in some cases a drastically different position) than it wants to take on its own when it is not corrected. Alignment cannot be corrected with an arch support that completely collapses under your feet. There is more to the construction of arch supports for alignment than just how firm the support is. The countours of the arch, the angles, the covers and additions used all contribute to the effectiveness of arch supports for alignment. Much thought and planning by qualified professionals has to go into the design and manufacture of any arch supports if you want to make them effective for the majority of people. Experienced designers who have have years of practice in the manufacture and fitting of arch supports are the best choice for designing arch supports for alignment, and these are the products to seek out. Companies that offer customized arch supports usually do a better job with their designs, as they are much more specific to problems and conditions and can focus on effectiveness that sets their slightly more expensive products apart rather than how to mass produce a generic product as cheaply as possible.