13/05/2022
If your foot is moving well it provides it’s own support 👣
Powerful foot health wisdom from .physiotherapy
👣
Your arches don’t need support, they need to be loaded and strengthened
The arch is an inherently supportive structure by its nature. Just like a bridge, it should be capable of withstanding the loads that are placed on it from above (your body)
I often get asked about arch supporting footwear and orthotics. While they can occasionally help reduce symptoms and act as a short term solution to foot problems, they are very rarely the answer
A strong foot and arch can be achieved through some basic strength exercises along with more general barefoot or unsupported loading
The arch requires load to adapt and strengthen. Load can be anything, and it starts with simply more time on the feet (standing and walking barefoot or with minimalist style shoes)
Strength training barefoot or with unsupportive footwear is another example of loading
💊 The dose matters of course. Loading the feet way more than they are used to in the short term can create problems, just as much as loading the feet too little
🔑 The feet and arches are meant to be loaded, not supported by external structures or footwear. The less reliance on external support, the stronger the feet get and the more function you can unlock
Think twice about supportive footwear
It’s rarely necessary and often works against you in the long term. Get your feet strong and robust by loading them more!
👣
