All humans are made differently with different eyes, mouths, arms and torsos. Our feet are no exception to this rule. As a fact, our feet shape and the arch on our feet can determine the kind of people we are. The arch on our foot is the most misunderstood part of the foot. While most people think it is a matter of beauty, what they fail to understand is the health implication attached with the arch.

The arch of the foot is formed by the tarsal and metatarsal bones. It is strengthened by ligaments and tendons which allow the foot to support the weight of the body when it is straight. The actual height of the arch determines the foot type.

People with low arches are more prone to injuries. Those with a nonexistent arch have what they called flat feet. This means the arch is completely on the ground. The arch on our foot can be understood as a natural shock absorber. It has a mechanism which controls the impact that would hit your feet, hips or ankles. With a flat foot, a person is more prone to over-pronation. When a person rolls their weight from the outside of their heel to the inside of the ball of their foot this is called over-pronation. This throws the pressure and weight around, and can lead to all sorts of aches and pains. A major result of this is that your ankles twist and your knees give way. This is a problem when one wants to run because the arch allows us to support heavier weights when we run.

Since flat feet have a lot of injuries associated, shoe makers and designers have produced revolutionary show products which can help people with flat feet. They cannot wear the same shoes as the people with higher arches would.

The best shoes that a person with flat feet can invest in are the ones that have high stability factors and properties that can control motion. Motion control is an extremely important feature since it helps reduce over-pronation. The best sole is one that is moderately firm, not overtly or under. These factors will help reduce the tendency that flat feet have to roll over or twist, hence making the experience or running or walking more normal.

People with flat feet should avoid shoes with padded features as this can cause discomfort. Also, they should avoid shoes that come with high curved soles since this will reduce stability and will cause pain to the feet. Ultimately, if people with flat feet want to jog, run or walk without discomfort, they will have to do the proper research to find the best shoes.

Jonathan Pitts

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