• What are Arch Supports?
• What are Prescription Orthotics?
• How do I know if I need Arch Supports or Orthotics?
• Selecting the Best Arch Supports for Your Feet
• How Much Should Arch Supports Cost?
• Our Arch Supports
Most foot pain is the result of a faulty relationship between the bones and muscles of the foot. Even the slightest misalignment can result in significant discomfort. This abnormal function can result in problems such as bunions, hammer toes, arch and heel pain, corns, knee pain ... even hip and back pain.
Providing proper support to the foot can alleviate and prevent most of these problems. First you must ensure that you are wearing proper shoes.
In many cases more support is required than the shoe alone can provide-even the best shoes. In these cases you may want to consider either an arch support or an orthotic (these are very different devices - keep reading for an explanation of the differences). Both arch supports and orthotics sit inside the shoe and provide support and/or cushion to your feet.
What are Arch Supports?
Arch Supports are non-prescription devices designed to provide gentle support to the arch of the foot and help spread weight more evenly along the bottom of the foot. They are usually purchased over-the-counter and are available in most shoe sizes. They slip inside your shoes - often replacing the insole that comes with the shoe. They are sometimes called “prefabricated orthotics” and some are even called “orthotics” in their advertising, but for the purpose of this discussion we'll call them “arch supports.”
There are many, many different arch supports on the market. Like everything else, some are better than others. One brand might work well for your feet while another brand works well for your friend's feet. When purchasing arch supports it is imperative that you find the brand and model that best fit your feet. The staff at SHOES-n-FEET® is trained by podiatrists to help you find the best support for your feet. In addition, we work with some of the areas top podiatrists and other foot health professionals to decide which supports to carry. We now carry the west coast's best selection of arch supports and a staff trained to help you find the best ones for your feet.
What are Prescription Orthotics?
Prescription Orthotics are custom-made devices which correct your individual foot problems. They are usually made of high-impact materials, such as polypropylene and graphite, and, like arch supports, they're designed to be inserted right into your shoes.
Prescription Orthotics are precision medical devices, made from non-weight bearing images of your feet. They are available from foot health professionals, such as podiatrists. Like eyeglasses do for the eyes, a good pair of orthotics will work to help your feet function more normally. Because your foot is now functioning properly, the pain of muscle strain and pressure points is relieved, and the progression of deformities can be stopped or slowed.
In order for orthotics to best help control the abnormal motion of your feet, it is absolutely required that an extensive examination be performed by a professional prior to writing an orthotic prescription.
We do not prescribe or make custom orthotics at SHOES-n-FEET®. It is our opinion that if you require the correction of a prescription orthotic, you should be seen by a medical professional with special training in orthotic therapy. We have developed great relationships with the region's best orthotic specialists and will be happy to refer you to one in your area. If you already wear orthotics, our staff are experts at fitting them into shoes. Also, almost all of the shoes we carry are orthotic-friendly.
How do I know if I need Arch Supports or Orthotics?
If you have foot pain, it is always a good idea to see your foot health professional and find out exactly what is wrong and what is the best treatment for your particular problem. Given that, most people will benefit from a little extra support. If you currently have prescription orthotics, you should wear those. If they are not comfortable for any reason, you should return to the provider who made them for you and have them adjusted. If that doesn't work, get a second opinion. When done correctly, orthotics are almost always comfortable.
If you do not currently have orthotics, you should try some high-quality over-the-counter arch supports. When fit correctly, they will provide support, cushion, and help reduce strain on your feet. If you still have pain after we have helped you find quality shoes and proper arch supports, you should make an appointment with your podiatrist or other foot health professional.
Selecting the Best Arch Supports for Your Feet
Out of the hundreds of over-the-counter arch supports on the market, SHOES-n-FEET® has selected the brands and models listed below as the best for our customers.
We would like to extend our gratitude to the podiatrists, pedorthists, physical therapists and other foot health professionals who have helped us evaluate the many devices on the market and select the best ones. We have looked for devices that provide excellent support and good cushioning for a variety of foot types. In addition, we have looked for devices that fit a variety of different shoes. Given the vast variety of foot shapes and shoe types, we have selected more than 10 models of arch supports in order to be able to fit the greatest number of people with a device that is best for their particular foot.
Keep in mind that there is no one “perfect” arch support - regardless of what some advertising may claim. A device that is perfect for your foot may not work well for your friend. Or, one that works great in an athletic shoe may not fit into a women's dress shoe. That is why we carry so many different models of arch supports and spend so much time training our staff on proper fitting. As a matter of fact, we have the best selection available on the west coast.
Our staff at SHOES-n-FEET® is trained by podiatrists to evaluate your foot and help you find the best device for your foot. They will look at the height of your arch, how stable your foot is, how wide it is in the heel and in the forefoot and whether you have any structural problems that may make one arch support work better than another. After that they will ask you about your activities and the types of shoes that you wear. Using all of that information they will choose the best models of supports for your feet and shoes and then individually fit them to your feet.
In some cases, we may feel that we don't have an over-the-counter device that would work well for your feet. Some feet are just too flat, too high-arched or have some structural abnormality that makes it difficult to fit an over-the-counter arch support. In that situation we would likely refer you to a podiatrist or other foot health professional that can evaluate whether you are a candidate for prescription orthotics. Additionally, we would recommend that you don't buy any shoes from us until after you find out if you need orthotics. That way we can ensure that your feet, your shoes and your orthotics all work together in harmony.
How Much Should Arch Supports Cost?
One final hint. We have looked at just about every non-prescription arch support on the market. With the help of medical experts we have selected the very best. We have not found any reason for you to spend more than $55.00 for ANY non-prescription arch support. Most run between $25.00 and $45.00. If you see any non-prescription devices selling for more than $45.00 talk to us or your podiatrist before spending your money. Prescription devices will, of course, cost more. But, you are getting much more for your money.
OUR ARCH SUPPORTS AND BRANDS
PROLAB
Prolab is a custom orthotics lab based in California that has branched out to create some excellent over the counter arch supports. In-Step is a durable and functional device designed to control moderate forms of pronation. The design was developed following the evaluation of thousands of negative cast scans of feet. Polypropylene was chosen for the shell because of its durability and slight flexibility.
FOOTSTRIDE
Footstride,a Puget Sound based orthotics lab, is one of the best prescription orthotic labs in the country. Their Quickstride orthotic is a little less controlling than the ProLab device, but is a also a little less expensive and comes complete with a shock absorbing cover. While very stable, it is also small enough to fit into dress shoes with a little adjustment.
SUPERFEET
For over two decades, Superfeet has dedicated its time and resources to relieving and preventing foot related pain. They believe that good overall health starts with healthy feet. Their patented Stabilizer Capsule (the shaped component on the bottom) firmly but gently supports and positions your foot. The Deep Heel Cup and special Footbed Shape help absorb shock. The special Moisture Managing Top Cover fabric reduces heat and friction to help keep your feet comfortable all day long.
Superfeet Synergizer Green Capsule
The top of the Superfeet line. A great footbed for running shoes and hiking boots. The Green Capsule is a bit larger than the other Superfeet models and they are able to build the most features into it to provide maximum balance, support and shock absorption. It is a bit bulkier than the ProLab and Quickstride arch supports and so does not fit very well into dressier shoes.
Spenco POLYSORB® Replacement Insoles
These insoles are a great and inexpensive replacement insole for walking and running shoes for the person who does not need an extensive amount of support but would like better shock absorption than the sock liner that comes with their shoe. Neoprene is laminated over a specially contoured, lightweight polyurethane base to provide outstanding cushioning and foot stability. Awarded the Seal of Acceptance by the American Podiatric Medical Association. Unconditionally guaranteed one full year.
ORTHOFEET
Orthofeet offers Biosoft, a mild arch support designed to provide extra cushion, support, and pressure distribution. A bladder construction, filled with polyurethane foam and viscoelastic gel, shapes dynamically to the contours of the foot without bottoming out.
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