Educational Articles

Natural Arch Support

Posted By Robyn Hughes, ND

Disclaimer:

The above content is for educational or informational purposes only and is not intended to replace or augment professional medical instruction, diagnosis, or treatment. Read full disclaimer here.

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Comments
March 04, 2018
Lora Schwacke

Your comments about foot issues are the most rational and refreshing that I have read in years. I suffer from plantar fasciitis and look forward to wearing the shoes I have just ordered. I’ve always felt that the orthotics I’d been prescribed are unnatural, and they really haven’t helped remedy my situation.

March 04, 2018
Natural Footgear

Hi, Lora,

Thank you for your comment. And thank you for your kind words! Much obliged!

We hope the new shoes work out well for you. We’d recommend checking out the following article if you’re transitioning to minimalist shoes for the first time. It offers some very helpful insights that can lead to a smoother transition:

www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/education/17888528-how-to-transition-to-minimalist-shoes

If you have any questions moving forward, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re happy to help out however we can!

Kind Regards,
Andrew Potter

October 19, 2018
Balla János

I hear all the time that zero drop shoes are bad for flat feet because we walk on concrete all (or at least most of) the time instead of natural, uneven surfaces like forest trails, thus shoes with a slight heel raise are better. Does this have any truth? I would also like to know if running on concrete in minimalist shoes is worse for the knees than running in regular shoes with more cushioning. Greetings from Hungary!

October 19, 2018
Natural Footgear

Thank you for your comment, Balla! We prefer zero drop footwear for flat feet because the completely flat sole serves to help stabilize the main foot arch (regardless of its height) and strengthen the foot when weight-bearing. Any degree of heel elevation built into a shoe only serves to destabilize the main foot arch and is detrimental to the overall health and function of the foot.

Also, shoes that have a relatively thin and flexible sole (i.e., more minimalist type shoes) offer better ground-feel, which allows users to be more aware of and conscientious about their footfalls and the resulting impact on the foot and other lower extremity joints. So, regardless of whether you’re running on concrete or other, softer surfaces, minimalist shoes encourage the kind of impact moderating behavior that can spare your joints the greater loads and forces they experience when you wear more cushioned athletic shoes on these same surfaces.

Here are a couple of relevant resources from our site that I think you might find interesting:

The Shoe Cushioning Myth:
www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/education/34226629-the-shoe-cushioning-myth

Footwear & Knee Osteoarthritis:
www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/education/17883016-footwear-knee-osteoarthritis

Please do let us know if you have any additional questions!

Kind regards,
Marty Hughes, DC

October 22, 2018
Ana Cristina Prem

I’d like to know if you are located in Los Angeles, California?

October 22, 2018
Natural Footgear

Hi, Ana Cristina,

Thank you for your question. We’re an online-only store, and so therefore we do not have any physical locations throughout the US, including in Los Angeles. We are, however, happy to ship any of the items we offer in our store directly to your doorstep!

Please do let us know if you have any additional questions.

Kind regards,
Marty Hughes, DC

December 29, 2018
Julie

Hi. Is a zero drop shoe with arch support unhealthy for the foot?

December 29, 2018
Natural Footgear

Hi, Julie,

That’s a really great question. The two things that enable healthy foot arches are the following:

1. Sufficient toe splay
2. A level surface for the foot to rest and act upon

For most folks, if these two conditions are met, conventional “arch support” is usually not required—it’s not only redundant, but it also impedes natural foot movement. So, in most cases, arch support in zero drop shoes is usually counterproductive.

I hope this info helps!

Kind regards,
Marty Hughes, DC

February 22, 2021
Arun

I am from India. After using the wrong shoe, combined with a sedentary lifestyle, my left foot arch started collapsing. I used arch supports as prescribed by doctors. They are not helpful for many reasons: 1) They weaken the muscles; 2) They raise my foot so much that my great toe loses contact with the ground; and 3) They act to correct in the sagittal plane (i.e., move the arch up). But in the frontal plane, there is still movement of the talus and navicular drop towards the medial side of the foot. Now I have calcaneal eversion, navicular drop, loss of my medial arch, and first ray instability. Please kindly help me with how to correct these problems using Correct Toes, metatarsal pads, etc.

February 22, 2021
Natural Footgear

Hi, Arun,

Thank you for your comment. I’m sorry to hear about the foot situation you find yourself in! What you’re describing is a pretty common complex of signs and symptoms, and the good news is that, with the proper care and attention, you should be able to restore the strength and function of your feet. I recommend diving into this article on our site, which lists the top tools and techniques for achieving sound foot health:

www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/educational-articles/10-best-natural-foot-health-tools-tips

I think you’ll find the approaches discussed here to be quite helpful in addressing the challenges you described above. Of course, if you have any additional questions about the concepts, footgear, or approach, please do let us know!

All the best,
Robyn Hughes, ND

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