The arch of each foot allows the foot to flex so that you can move more efficiently

Your arches makes your gait more flexible, improves balance when moving or standing and absorbs shocks.

If your arches are not properly raised, your feet will appear flat and so your mobility and flexibility will be impaired.

This can result in a strain on joints and cause pain that needs to be addressed with arch support.

Causes of Flat Feet

We all have flat feet when we’re born – the arches generally develop as we grow

Sometimes that doesn’t happen because our feet don’t grow properly and this is often a genetic condition so that many in the family will have flat feet.

In some cases, flat feet will develop later in life and this condition is commonly known as fallen arches or acquired flat feet. This can be due to:

• the natural ageing process as tendons stretch
• obesity or weight gain, possibly due to pregnancy, since this puts more pressure on the feet
• a traumatic injury, such as tearing a tendon or dislocating bones
• inflammation in the joints caused by rheumatoid arthritis
• decreased blood supply to the feet
• diabetes that affects the nerves or weakens tendons.

Flat feet can cause foot pain, tired feet, swollen ankles and backache.

They can also result in an excessive rolling inward of the foot (overpronation) and make you place your feet on the ground incorrectly, which can make existing hip and knee pains worse and generally inhibit your movements.

You can gain some relief by applying ice packs, undergoing surgery to repair tendons, losing weight and practising various exercises to stretch and strengthen tendons and muscles.

There are 2 types of flat feet:

• rigid flat feet are always flat whether you put weight on them or not
• flexible flat feet have an arch when there is no weight put on them but become flat when you stand.

The former normally require supports with a low arch height while the latter generally need an arch of medium height.

Cheap foam or gel inserts simply can't give you the arch support needed and won’t ultimately relieve pain. We recommending trying our G8 Performance Pro Series 2620 insoles.

Order your G8's with complete confidence. All G8 Performance insoles and accessories purchased via our website come with a full 90 Day Warranty.

We insist on your complete satisfaction with all our G8 Performance products, service and support or your money back.