Arch Supports: Over The Counter or Custom?

Arch Supports are being used more and more commonly to treat a variety of conditions, including heel spurs, overpronation, metatarsalgia, and for plantar fasciitis treatment.

There are two main kinds of arch supports.

1) Over the counter arch supports. (Also known as off-the-shelf arch supports or foot orthotics)

2) Custom-made arch supports. (Also called custom arch supports or custom foot orthotics)

Traditional over the counter arch supports have been cheap and ineffective. Most are little more than an added cushion under the foot which does very little to support the arch and control foot position.  An example of a common brand would be the Dr. Scholls arch supports that can be found in department stores and pharmacies. The cheaper over the counter arch supports often wear out quickly as well.

Custom arch supports are custom fit to the patient's foot after a detailed assessment by a qualified foot orthotics/arch support provider.  They can provide cushion and accomodation and can do very well to support the arch and control alignment.  However they are very expensive. The industry is not well regulated and it can be difficult to find someone who is properly qualified and who you are comfortable with.

Arch Supports That Would Bridge the Gap Require:

 1. The ability to be customized into arch supports that would suit a variety of different people and a variety of different conditions, similar to custom arch supports.

2. Made from the same materials as custom arch supports.

3. Put together in the same way as custom arch supports.

4. Strong enough to control foot position and support the arch like custom arch supports do.

5. Built with enough technical know-how to perform in similar ways to custom arch supports when treating different conditions.

6. All of this would be best manufactured at an experienced custom lab with experience manufacturing custom products.

7. Priced at 1/3 the cost of custom arch supports or less.

Some feet will just never be able to fit properly with over-the-counter arch supports and will need custom fitting. Especially those with anatomical deformities and very complicated medical problems.

For the average person with foot or arch problems, however, customizable off-the-shelf arch supports may do the trick...and for a quarter to a third the cost of a good custom arch support product.

To see some suggested foot orthotics, Click Here: Arch Supports