It also keeps us upright when we stand.Ī foot supported by an artificial arch learns to rely on the support from the shoe opposed to the muscles in the foot. Why Cushioned Shoes Weaken the Arch in the FootĪs explained above, the role of the arch is to act as a spring and absorber for every landing and take off when we walk or run. Other reasons the shape of an arch can change are due to pregnancy, improper footwear, obesity, diabetes, and age.

Babies are born with flat feet and our arch develops as we age, often accelerated by the use of traditional footwear. The shape of one’s arch can change over time. The majority of people have medium arches, whereas the remainder fall into the other two categories. People fall into one of three categories of arches:

As the arch compresses, the ligaments and tendons store the energy and use it to push the body forward into the next step. To act like springs that propel our body forward or upward during activities like running, jumping, and walkingĪrches also help us grip during activities like climbing trees or over rocks, though we don’t often do those activities barefoot.Įach time we land, the arch absorbs the shock of the foot hitting the ground.To support our body weight while we are standing.The arch runs along the middle of the bottom of the foot and is connected by the heel and the ball of the foot. What is the Role of the Arch in our Feet? The arch plays an important role in our movement, balance, and risk of injury.

Over time, the muscles in our feet learn to become dependent on the arches in conventional shoes and therefore become weak and unable to function to their abilities. Traditional footwear contains a cushioned arch and stacked heel that can weaken the foot muscles over time, leading to injuries, foot deformities, and inefficient movement.Ĭomparatively, the arch in minimalist shoes is supported not by the shoe, but rather by the muscles in the foot. However, the majority of people wearing shoes with artificial arch support are not doing their feet a service. For those with flat feet, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, or some other ailment of the feet, most store clerks or doctors would prescribe a shoe with good arch support.

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