Tips and Tricks to Wearing Arch Supports or Orthotics

Wearing arch supports correctly will help you get the most out of your orthotics, increase comfort, and improve the way your walk.

  1. Always wear your arch supports or orthotics under the insole of your shoes when possible. If your shoes insole is not removable try a generic flat insole to fit over the arch support all of the way to the toes of your feet.
  2. When you go to a shoe store or sporting goods store measure your arch with their Brannock device (shoe sizing device).  There are three measurements these devices are capable of taking, the over all length, width, and arch.  The arch is measured by sliding the arch measuring device to fit the 1st metatarsal head perfectly. Take this size and use it when ordering the size of your arch supports, NOT the overall size of your feet.
  3. Some people may need to break in their arch supports, when wearing arch supports for the first time. If your arch supports feel to high in the arch, try wearing them for one hour the first day and then increase the time you wear them an additional hour each day, by the end of a week you should be wearing them almost an entire day.  Breaking in arch supports is a misnomer, really you are getting your feet use to the arch support provided. 
  4. Wear shoes appropriate for arch supports. shoes should have a solid heel counter and adjustable laces or velcro, when you introduce arch supports to your shoes adjust the laces so your foot is not tight in the mid foot area. When increasing the height of the arch you will take up more space in the mid-foot, adjust the shoes accordingly.
  5. Shoes should have a solid mid-sole for the arch support to rest on, shoes with a soft midsole or innersole, will result in instability and wobbling of the arch support, this can reduce the effectiveness of the arch support.
  6. Most sandals and flip flops are not going to accommodate arch supports well.
  7. When wearing arch supports, stay away from shoes that have a floppy sole, you should not be able to compress a shoe from heel counter to toe easily.