I often get asked about arch supports in shoes and flat feet. Do I need an arch support? Who decided that shoes have arches in them? Why don’t barefoot shoes have arch support? I have flat feet, I need an arch support … will I ever get my arches back?
So here we go.
The human foot should absolutely have an arch but there is no fixed structure (ie bone) that creates the arch as such. The arch is created by strength in the hip (& pelvic floor) muscles, so whoever decided to put an arch in shoes probably did it with good intentions.
HOWEVER, when our shoes have arches in them it means our muscles (which should naturally create the arch) don’t have to work any more because their work has been outsourced to our shoes and so those muscles weaken.
The weakening of those muscles mean we become dependent upon the support in our shoes to create the arch in our foot … as well as suffering from weakened hip & pelvic floor musculature (and that all that goes with that!)
So can I regain my arch?
Yes! The regaining of the arch is to do with hip strength and the rotation of the leg. Try it; stand with your legs straight and then externally rotate your legs (like you’re trying to get the inside of your thighs to come to the front) & watch what happens to your arch…. you should see it reappear. 🙂
So then the goal is to build your strength (& release tensions) such that you can maintain that leg position whilst you walk.
How do I start?
1. Stand with your legs vertical ie hips over ankles
2. Practice externally rotating your thighs
3. Get your feet mobile! Wear flexible shoes, massage your feet, walk barefoot when you can