The quality of life you lead is dependent on a couple of things—one of these being the shoes you wear. If you constantly find your feet feeling painful, it is time for you to look into the type of shoes you wear. Chances are they are not supporting you enough, and your foot sits uncomfortably in them. It is, for this reason, that foot support was invented. It’s meant to ensure that your feet stay comfortable in the shoes you wear and do not bend in a way that is likely to cause you discomfort. Here are some of the reasons why foot support is essential.
1. It Provides Extra Support
Your foot is made up of many bones to support your body. You have almost a quarter of your body’s bones in your feet. The arch in your feet acts as shock absorbers and ensures that your body stays upright. There are situations where the arch on your feet is not enough, which leads to you feeling pain every time you stand. While some shoes come with arched soles, sometimes these are not enough. You can choose to add an insert or use orthotics for arch support. The decision you make will be based on the severity of your condition.
2. They Are Custom Made for You
Even though shoes come with a slight arch, they are usually a made-to-fit-all kind of size. When using this kind of arch, one might not get the support their arch needs. That is why many people still suffer from back and leg pain even though their shoes have support. Getting an insert or an orthotic ensures that your feet get the support they need. Inserts come in various sizes, and you can try them out before you buy them to see if they fit you well. On the other hand, your doctor will custom-make the orthotics to ensure that all your needs are met. You can go back and change either of these supports if you still feel pain after using them.
3. They Help Distribute Pressure
Often, you feel pain in your feet and back because the pressure of your body is unevenly distributed. The pain can get worse if you have diabetes or arthritis. Your body often concentrates a lot of the pressure on the heel and ball of your feet. If you have a flat arch, this pressure will be even more intense. With arch support, pressure can be distributed evenly, which reduces the amount of pain or strain you might feel daily.
4. Ensures Your Shoe Fits
Sometimes you might feel like your shoe is too small based on how your toes press against the end of the shoe. The reality of it might be that the posture of your foot keeps pushing it deep into the shoes. With foot support, your feet will not keep slipping in the shoes. You can wear the right size of shoes because you tried them on with support and they fit.
5. Improves Balance and Stability
Since support fills in the gaps in your arches, it ensures that you can stand up better without any issues. Your balance is also made sturdy, which means you will not topple over when you walk or stand for extended periods of time.
Many people never realize the importance of arch support because they have no issues with their feet or do not move around a lot. If you ever feel like your back is aching after standing or moving around, chances are you need to see a podiatrist. They will check you out and figure out whether you need an insert or an orthotic. Many people who have been to the podiatrist before admit that they felt better after having their supports custom-made for them. They can move better, and their standing posture significantly improved. Seeing a podiatrist early enough ensures that your posture issues do not advance and become severe, like a fracture or dislocation.