Who Needs Arch Support?

Almost any person with a foot problem will benefit from arch support. It has been estimated that more than 50% of the population suffer from rolling inwards of the foot and fallen arches, otherwise known as excess pronation. This is considered to be the major contributing factor for most foot problems. The problem gets worse as we age with an estimated 75% of the popularion over 50 suffering from excess pronation!

Those most likely to suffer from pronation related conditions are:

- The Elderly: As we age, there is a weaking of the muscles and ligaments in the foot, the bones also suffer from calcium reduction. Additionly, the fat oriented padding under the foot begins to thin out. This decreases the protection and cushioning for bones and especially the heel bone. Falling arches combined with thinning fat tissue are the most common recipe for foot problems. This is why Heel Spurs are the most common foot complaints in patients over 50. There are over 2 million people in the USA alone suffering from heel pain!

- People who are on their feet all day: Anyone who works in a factory, teachers, store clerks, nurses, teachers, people in the building industry are all required to stand on their feet for 8 hours or more per day! Hard surfaces like concrete and asphalt especially take a toll after long hours of standing even in young, healthy people! The complaints we hear most heard are tired, aching feet, sore legs and pain in the lower back. Women who wear dress shoes with heels (e.g. in retail or hospitality) often suffer from ball of foot pain known as Metatarsalgia and/or aching legs. Good arch support can help with all three of these compaints.

- Runners & Athletes: Athletes put much additional stress on their muscles and bones, the ground reaction forces are up to 5 times their body weight, this causes most biomechanical injuries. Proper arch support plays a major role in preventing sports injuries such as Achilles Tendonitis and Shin Splints as well as problems involving the knee joint. Arch supports can also improve athletic performand by allowing pain free running.

- High-heel wearers: everyone knows high heels are hard on your feet, but most women want to keep wearing them. Symptoms from wearing high heels are pain in the back of the legs, pain throughout the arch, the heel and in the ball of the foot. That's why the Slimfit arch support (pictured on the left) was developed, it works well in almost any high heel or sandal.

- Young children: The 3 most common conditions in young children are Sever's Disease, Osgood-Schlatters and Growing Pains. Kids are usually very active and their bones have not fully developed this may disrupt the growth plates causing inflammation and pain. Using an arch support can help stabilize the excess movement in tendons and joints, thereby relieving many aches & pains.

Others that may benefit from proper arch support are those who are overweight, diabetics and those with arthritis. In each of these cases, proper foot alignment will lessen the strain on irritated joints and keep the usual symptoms from further deterioration.