An average adult takes about 4,000 to 6,000 steps a day. Your feet are one of the most actively used parts of your body and are often neglected. People usually pay attention to their feet only when they feel pain or if they can’t function because of it.
Taking care of one’s feet is as crucial as taking care of the rest of your body. The feet lift your entire body’s weight, and being the part that carries you, they provide support, balance, and posture.
However, when your feet are not appropriately cared for, you may develop several painful conditions that could affect one’s way of life. These are some of the conditions one could have:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Osteoarthritis
- Gout
- Athlete’s foot
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Bunions
- Achilles tendon injury
- Calluses and corns
- Heel spurs
- Metatarsalgia
- Claw toes
- Morton’s neuroma
Except for athlete’s foot and rheumatoid arthritis, all the rest of the foot conditions are due to wearing ill-fitting footwear. Some foot conditions can be helped by wearing arch support thongs.
What Are Arch Support Thongs?
Arch support thongs are footwear that support the foot’s natural arch through a curvature made from quality materials that will provide stability and balance to the wearer. The design of the footwear follows the science behind orthotics.
Podiatrists recommend arch support thongs to many patients, and here are the reasons why:
- Helps In The Distribution Of Weight
The added cushioning on the footbed of the thongs follows the natural curve of your feet. And because of that, it supports an even distribution of weight. You wouldn’t feel any part carrying more pressure than the others.
On the other hand, posture is directly related to the distribution of weight in your feet. When your weight is evenly distributed, your posture will be better.
An excellent arch support thong won’t put excessive pressure on the forefoot and the heel; instead, the overall body weight should rest more on the arch in the mid-foot.
In addition, the arch support thongs simultaneously hold up the three critical arches of the foot: the medial, lateral, and the anterior transverse arch. The thong form ensures the correct weight distribution ratio, so there won’t be any tension on the knee, back, and spine.
- Relieves Excess Pressure On The Plantar Fascia
When there’s excessive pressure on your plantar fascia, you might experience intense heel pain because of the inflammation of the fibrous tissue. An arch support thong will provide relief on that part of the foot and might lessen the condition’s worsening.
Meanwhile, experts note that the primary reason for this excessive pressure is being overweight and having an incorrect way of walking and even standing for long hours. The stabbing pain results from minor tears in the ligament, which is usually more intense in the morning as soon as one wakes up.
Patients with plantar fasciitis are recommended to wear orthotics for support. In periods when they don’t wear their orthotics, an arch support thong would be ideal instead of walking barefoot or wearing ordinary flip flops.
- Reduce Load On Calf
Wearing an arch support thong will ease the tightness on your calves, therefore reducing discomfort and relieving pain.
On the other hand, frequent walking and other strenuous activities can tighten one’s calves. When this happens, your body will compensate and transfer the weight to other parts of the body, such as the knee, lower back, and neck.
When your body compensates, you’ll notice that your gait will be different, and your posture will be affected. Additionally, the pain and discomfort may affect your daily activities.
- Eliminate Toe Clawing
An exceptional arch support thong will have an excellent strap fit that will hold your foot in place as you walk. This is important because a loose fit on the forefoot will prompt your toe to grip the footwear, so it won’t slip or get loose. When your toe does the job of clawing on your footwear, it will result in a condition called ‘toe clawing’.
Because of the frequent strain on the toes, the toes could become painful and inflexible. To help you with this, a great-fitting arch support thong will adequately hold your foot in place so you can walk naturally.
- Great For Post-Exercise Recovery
When you exercise, your body will experience strain, and your feet will carry the burden of lifting, running, stretching, jumping, and walking. A two-hour vigorous exercise can do wonders for your body, but it will also need to recover from the tightness. While you’re in that stage, an arch support thong will help your body recuperate as it gives you balance and stability.
Conclusion
An arch support thong may look like casual and ordinary sandals that you wear while at the beach or while randomly buying groceries. But, the science, mechanism, and function will give your weary feet comfort and support.
With everything that you do all day and all the activities you let your feet experience, it might be time to pay attention to the foundation of your body and give them the care and regard to improve your general well-being.
