High Arch Insoles

Your foot's arch is the area in the middle of your foot between your heel and the ball of your foot that typically curves upward. The curve of the arch can range from nearly flat to steep and high. Having a high arch can sometimes indicate the presence of an underlying condition, make you more susceptible to conditions such as plantar fasciitis or hammer toes, or cause chronic pain and discomfort.

How do you determine your arch height?

Of course the best way to get a true determination of your arch height is to visit a doctor. However, a quick home test you can do is to get a piece of paper, construction paper works well, and place it on the floor. Wet the bottom on your foot and then stand on the paper. Remove your foot and look at the imprint left on the paper. If you only see a mark where your heel and the ball of your foot touched the paper, or if they have a very thin line connecting them, you are likely to have a high arch. At that point, the next step is to visit your doctor.

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What are common causes of foot pain from high arches?

Because having a high arch can change the way the other parts that make up your foot are positioned as well as affect the mechanics of how you move, many other foot conditions are associated with high arches. Among them is plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of the tendon that runs along the bottom of the foot. This is a common condition but can cause chronic pain and discomfort. Other conditions include metatarsalgia, which is an inflammation of the ball of the foot; hammer toes, claw toes, and ankle instability. All of these conditions should be addressed by a doctor in order to avoid a worsening of the condition and chronic pain.

For High Arches We Recommend:

The T-Series offers the greatest degree of cushion and arch support, can help redistribute pressure, and allow for better overall alignment. It is ideal for daily wear in regular volume shoes such as walking shoes, athletic trainers, and work boots. The T-Series incorporates Protalus's patented alignment technology to provide the stability and comfort you need.

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How do high arch insoles help with high arches?

An insole can affect the way that pressure is distributed in the foot. Insoles have been shown 1 to help redistribute pressure away from areas of the foot that are bearing a high amount of load due to a high arch. This means that pressure is reduced under the ball of the foot and increased in other areas. Finding insoles that have pressure distribution technology is important as some insoles only provide cushion and will not provide much improvement for pain associated with high arches.

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What are the treatments for high arches?

Beyond using high arch shoe inserts, there are several treatments that can help reduce pain from high arches. Custom orthotics are sometimes recommended, though they can be very expensive. Over-the-counter pain medication and icing the area can help with inflammation in cases of acute pain. For long-term discomfort, night splints to stretch the arch of your foot and specialized shoes are also an option. In rare cases of severe high arches, sometimes surgery is recommended but this is not common. All of these treatment options should be reviewed by a doctor before you try them to avoid causing further injury.

1. Niki M. Stolwijk, J. (n.d.). Plantar Pressure with and without Custom Insoles in Patients with Common Foot Complaints - Niki M. Stolwijk, Jan Willem K. Louwerens, Bart Nienhuis, Jacques Duysens, Noël L. W. Keijsers, 2011. Retrieved January 29, 2021, from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.3113/fai.2011.0057

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