Certain Individuals Benefit From Arch Supports For Flat Feet

By Cornelia Reyes


The human foot is designed with an arch that creates a type of springboard, supporting the person's back and spine. When the latter are supported properly, neck pain, lower back pain and fatigue are eliminated, and posture is improved. This is why many individuals invest in arch supports for flat feet.

In infants and toddlers, flat feet are essentially normal. This is because the development of the arches has not yet taken place. This process typically occurs throughout one's childhood. With certain individuals, however, the appropriate arches do not correctly develop as the individual ages. This is why orthopedic devices are sometimes required.

Genetics may play a role in flat feet, or the latter may develop in adulthood because of various outside factors. Fallen arches are considered a disorder when they occur in adults. The condition may be caused by excessive standing, such as that required of individuals who work on their feet for extended periods of time. Some examples are those who work in the hospitality industry or as security personnel.

There are several options when one requires the aforementioned support. These include inserts, which are devices that can be placed inside one's shoes. In addition, orthopedic shoes may be recommended for certain individuals, which feature an arch support that is built into the footwear.

Orthopedic shoes were designed to realign the spine to a normal position, and subsequently eliminate the person's discomfort or pain. Such footwear is frequently recommended for individuals who have no arches. Shoes of this type are manufactured in such a way that part of the bed of the sole of the shoe, as well as the instep, are raised. They can be ordered by an orthopedic specialist and custom-made according to his or her directions, or purchased in stores.

As previously mentioned, inserts are also an option. The latter are designed to enhance the support offered by conventional footwear. However, custom-made inserts are an alternative as well. No matter which option one pursues, whether custom-made devices or over-the-counter products, the objective is the same: to relieve tension and pressure from the individual's back and neck, and distribute it to the legs. This will not occur naturally if an individual has flat feet.

Many times, the absence of arches is idiopathic, meaning there is no known cause for the disorder. It is wise to seek medical evaluation if one suspects that his or her arches have fallen. Those who have been afflicted with this condition from birth will likely benefit from orthopedic devices such as those mentioned above.

Individuals with bunions or painful bone spurs in the heel also typically find orthopedic devices beneficial. Heel spurs, as their name implies, develop when a sliver of the person's bone grows abnormally and juts out at an angle that is not natural, causing discomfort and pain. Arch supports for flat feet often decrease pressure in the area of the patient's heel, and therefore lessening the number of uncomfortable symptoms he or she experiences. Virtually any person who is faced with one or more of the foot disorders mentioned above should talk to a primary health care professional about using orthopedic footwear or arch supports.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment