What are Arch Support Inserts and Why You May Need Them If You Have Flat Feet

Why Do We Need Orthotic Insoles?Approximately 60-70 percent of the population of the world are diagnosed with an ailment called over-pronation, which can cause severe consequences over the years. Certain patients over-pronate more than others. The reason why so many individuals have flat feet can be attributed to the flat and hard surfaces we run around on each day. Also, body weight, weak ankles, and aging can have an effect. Therefore, over-pronation is much more prevalent in folks in their 50’s and older, and also in those that are overweight. For lots of individuals, over-pronation doesn't pose a real problem, specifically for younger people. However, improper foot function caused by over-pronation will cause various ailments like plantar fasciitis, heel pain, heel spurs, metatarsalgia - even knee pain and low back pain!Orthotics fix the issue of over-pronation and can help lessen or eliminate many common aches and pains caused by flat feet and other ailments of the foot. Orthotic insoles are not pricey, with a price from $30-40/pair. Buying a pair of orthotic shoe inserts can be an important investment in your health, because they can also prevent many future biomechanical issues.What Are Orthotic Insoles?Orthotic insoles are products that are put inside the shoes in order to restore our normal foot function. Many familiar issues such as heel pain, knee pain and low back pain are produced by inferior foot biomechanics. Biomechanics is the study of movement and observes the motion of our bodies during walking, running, and performing sports. The most familiar type of abnormal foot biomechanics is over-pronation. It consists in the arches being dropped and the turning in of the feet and ankles. On average, 70% of people experience over-pronation to various extents. Orthotic insoles correct over-pronation and restore the alignment of the foot and ankle bones to their correct position, restoring natural foot function. In turn, this will help relieve issues not only in the feet, but also in other sections of the body, particularly lower body parts such as the hips, lower back and the knees.What is the Difference Between Orthotic Insoles and Regular Insoles?There is a big difference between average insoles and orthotic insoles. Standard insoles are only designed to give a cushioning effect and shock absorption. They may be comfortable at first, however they do not deal with any biomechanical issues i.e. they do not correct over-pronation. On the other hand, orthotic shoe inserts are practical devices, built to correct and optimize our foot function. Some insoles also feature an arch support, but often the support is ineffective, especially if the insoles are made of yielding materials. So how do orthotic shoe inserts precisely work? To beging with, orthotic shoe inserts do much more than supporting the arches. Orthotic insoles bring back the correct position of the feet and ankles and restore normal foot function. Also, orthotic shoe inserts enable a smoother weight distribution, keeping pressure off tender points such as the ball of the feet, heels, corns and bunions, etc. They also provide a certain degree of shock absorption, but this not their key goal. The main purpose of orthotic shoe inserts is to make foot function better. In many instances, this will lessen foot pain and prevent future troubles and harm.