What are High Arch Insoles?

21 December 2015 | John

High arch insoles are specifically designed to help correctly support high or raised arches (also known as cavus foot or pes cavus). They help to provide relief to the pain high arches can cause, and can also help protect against the development of further foot conditions.

What are High Arches?

High arches are arches which are higher than normal. Unlike low arches, which are usually harmless, high arches can cause serious problems in feet. High arches can become quite painful due to the compression of the metatarsals it causes in feet. This pain can lead to a significant reduction in the function of the feet.

But it’s not just physical problems people with high arches can have, the condition derives directly from the natural shape of the foot, which makes finding the perfect shoe fit something of a challenge.

Testing for High Arches

If you’re worried you have high arches, there’s an easy way to test if you do.

Wet the bottom of one or both of your feet
Step onto a normally dry surface like a newspaper or concrete
Look at the footprint. If you can’t see a middle part of the foot, only the toes, ball and heel of feet, there’s a chance you have high arches

High arches also often present as being taller and shorter than standard feet, so this too can be an indicator of high arches.

How do High Arch Insoles Help with High Arches?

High arch insoles help provide relief to high arches by concentrating support directly on the arch. This reduces the strain on the ball and heel of the feet, with this overworking of the foot compensated by an insole, the strain and therefore the pain is relieved.

The insoles also provide support to the ball and heel. Instead of focusing pressure on these overused parts of the foot, pressure is more evenly distributed throughout the entirety of the foot. By providing this support, high arch insoles help to make feet feel more comfortable, better supported and healthier overall.

What Kinds of High Arch Insoles are Available?

Because a significant portion of the population are thought to have high arches (with some estimates putting it as high as 29% of people), there are a huge range of high arch insoles for different uses and different needs.

The Powerstep Pinnacle Maxx Full Length Orthotic Insoles, for example, are great everyday insoles for those with high arches, as they also help with other common foot conditions such as plantar fasciitis and arch strain, which can come about as a result of high arches.

Additionally there’s the Pedag Energy Insoles for High Arches, which have been developed for endurance athletes and helps to relieve the fatigue and strain endurance sports can cause.

But that's not all! If you’re interested in getting your hands on some insoles, head on over to Shoe Insoles and check out our range of Insoles for High Arches.