Fallen Arches Symptoms, Causes, Treatment - Are Insoles The Answer?

by Dr. Tom Lembo
7 min read

One of the most common questions people ask who suffer with fallen arches is, "Can a pair of arch support insoles really relieve my discomfort?". It turns out the answer is a little more complicated than a simple "yes" or "no". First, it's important to note the arch support insoles can not actually "cure" fallen arches.

However, fallen arches can cause a variety of painful symptoms in the feet. Many of these symptoms have been treated, and often relieved, by fallen arches insoles for decades!

One of the keys to correctly choosing a fallen arches insole is first understanding what "fallen arches" are, and why discomfort often accompanies this condition.

What Are Fallen Arches?

Fallen arches, also known as flat feet, are a common condition seen in both adults and children. Normally, feet have an upward longitudinal curve in the middle called an arch. This arch is formed by a group of tendons and ligaments attached to the heel and foot bones.

Tendons in the lower leg , along with ligaments in the foot, work together to pull and form the foot's arch. However, if the tendons do not pull sufficiently enough, there is a low arch or no arch at all. This condition of collapsed arches is popularly known as fallen arches. Fallen arches can affect one or both feet.

The lack of crucial arch support in the foot can cause many complications. In people with flat feet, the normal pressure of walking shifts to other parts of the feet. If not treated properly, this can cause prolonged discomfort, pain, and in some cases, serious joint and foot problems.

What Causes Fallen Arches

Fallen arches can be present in newborns or develop during childhood. In many cases, the condition can be hereditary.

Fallen arches can also be attributed to many other causes such as:

-Wearing shoes with poor arch support
-Excessive walking or standing on high heels
-Muscle damage caused by excessive strain on the feet
-Ruptured or over-stretched tendons
-Abnormality at birth
-The risk of developing flat feet also increases with diabetes, pregnancy, obesity and aging.

Fallen Arches Symptoms and Treatment (How to Get Rid of Fallen Arches Symptoms)

The treatment for fallen arches is dependent on the severity of the condition and underlying cause. In many cases, the symptoms of flat feet can be controlled effectively with conservative care. Your podiatrist may suggest one or more of the following:

-Fallen Arches Insoles
-Pain medications
-Regular stretching exercises
-Ice and compression to reduce pain and swelling
-Physical therapy

Wearing orthotic arch supports can be tremendously beneficial in alleviating and preventing flat feet pain and discomfort. In addition, taking proper care of the feet and following a consistent home exercise regimen, prescribed by your doctor or physical therapist, can be very effective in prevention and management of the symptoms.

It's important to note that orthotic shoe inserts can not actually "cure" flat feet.

However, fallen arches can cause a variety of painful symptoms in the feet. Many of these symptoms have been treated, and often relieved, by orthotic arch supports for decades!

What is the #1 Home Remedy for Painful Fallen Arches?

For something that affects so many people, fallen arches pain isn't talked about often enough.

For many, the answer is arch support shoe inserts, sometimes custom-made by a podiatrist. These cost hundreds of dollars, and can often end up limiting the types of shoes you can wear.

However, nearly all cases of fallen arches can be addressed with a pair of over-the-counter orthotic shoe inserts. Not only do they average a tenth of the cost, but they are available in many different shapes and sizes, so you don't have to get rid of what's in your closet.

It sounds a little too good to be true, but once you understand more about what fallen arches are, and how a good orthotic helps, you'll start to see why the solution doesn't have to break the bank.

Our Top 5 Fallen Arches Orthotics for 2020

🏆 #1- Samurai Insoles Ninjas ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Why are Samurai Insoles our top pick for 2020 for fallen arches?

✔️ Great Reviews: "They work", "Amazing", "A Miracle", "A must have"; this is just some of the tremendous feedback Samurai Insoles Ninjas are getting from customers with fallen arches recently.

✔️ Design: Samurai Insoles Ninjas are one of the few products on the market that are an ACTUAL ORTHOTIC that is not super rigid. This gives your feet the support they need to relieve fallen arches pain while STILL being comfortable!

They also can be worn in ANY shoe with a removable insole, giving you the flexibility of using them in many types of shoes!

And the best part? Because they aren't an insole made of foam and fabric, they last SO LONG! There isn't anything to wear out, just put them under the factory insoles of a new pair of shoes and you're good to go.

✔️ Price: At $39.99 these are an absolute steal! (Edit: They are currently on sale on Amazon for $29.99) Many people pay over $500 for custom orthotics for fallen arches. For less than 1/10 the price, these are nearly as good.

✔️ Greater than 30 Day Return Policy: Samurai Insoles Ninjas have a 60 day return policy, and a ONE YEAR WARRANTY! No other product we're aware of even comes CLOSE to a one year warranty. Samurai Insoles will even accept a return if you've worn them for 59 days and then decide they don't work for you.

✔️ Made in the USA: Samurai Insoles are made in an orthotic lab in the USA. The fact that an American-made orthotic can be purchased for under $30 is truly amazing.

#2- Protalus Insoles ⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you've been on the internet in the last year, you haven't sneezed without seeing a Protalus ad. They are comfy and can be very beneficial for flat feet. Protalus' hefty price tag remains their biggest negative.

✔️ Great Reviews: "Solid insoles", "Almost pain free", "They work"; Protalus has built a very loyal fan base over the past 2 years.

✔️ Design: Protalus "kind of" has an orthotic merged with an insole. Protalus took a different approach by combining a thick piece of plastic on the bottom of the insole, instead of inside. This definitely does the job, but it also makes them thicker than Samurai Insoles, reducing the choices of shoes they'll fit in well.

❌ Price: Here's the problem with Protalus; they're $99.95. Oof. For that kind of money you'd better REALLY love them. It also reduces the chances you'd buy a whole bunch of them to put in all of your shoes.

✔️ Greater than 30 Day Return Policy: Protalus has a 90 day return policy. We always wonder about very extended return policies like this one. If something fits you for 60 days, is there a chance you'll change your mind in 90 days? I suppose it's possible...

❌ Made in the USA: Protalus insoles are NOT made in the USA unfortunately. For the price we had hoped they were.

#3- Superfeet GREEN Insoles ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Superfeet have been around a LONG time. They got their start being sold in retail sporting goods stores, and have transitioned to selling online in recent years, but this has presented the company with some challenges.

❌ Great Reviews: When looking through the reviews for Superfeet you'll surely find many who have been helped by the GREEN insole line. Unfortunately, they have apparently had issues with cheap knock offs sneaking their way onto Amazon and Ebay, which has led to many complaints by customers that they have received fakes when buying online.

✔️ Design: If you've checked out the Protalus design, just know that the Superfeet did it first. They were one of the first to incorporate an orthotic plastic layer on the outside of the insole. Once again, this does the job, but it also makes them thicker than the Samurai, reducing the choices of shoes they'll fit well in.

✔️ Price: Superfeet retail for $49.99, that's getting into the pricey range.

✔️ Greater than 30 Day Return Policy: Superfeet GREEN has a 60 day return policy.

❌ Made in the USA: Superfeet are not made in the USA unfortunately. Once again, for this price we had hoped they would be.

#4- Dr. Scholl's "Custom fit" Orthotic Inserts ⭐⭐⭐⭐

✔️ Great Reviews: Overwhelming positive on Amazon at the time of writing this.

✔️ Design: Not a full length insole (but neither is Protalus), which may make it difficult for some people to adjust to the feel of this. Once again, Dr. Scholl's Custom Fit combine a thick piece of plastic to the bottom of the insole, instead of inside.

❌ Price: Dr. Scholl's "Custom fit" Orthotic Inserts currently retail for $53.95 on Amazon, our second most expensive selection.

✔️ Greater than 30 Day Return Policy: Dr. Scholls Custom Fit Orthotic Inserts has a 90 day return policy. Once again, we wonder if something fits you for 60 days, is there a chance you'll change your mind in 90 days?

❌ Made in the USA: Dr. Scholl's "Custom fit" Orthotic Inserts are not made in the USA unfortunately.

#5- Dr. Scholl's Pain Relief Orthotics for Plantar Fasciitis ⭐⭐⭐

❌ Great Reviews: Mixed reviews on Amazon "More time will tell", "Didn't really help much", "It's OK".

❌ Design: Well, unfortunately, there isn't much of one. Dr. Scholl’s Pain Relief Orthotics for Plantar Fasciitis are a very thin insole with a *very* thin piece of plastic glued to the bottom. It's unclear how much weight they can hold before flattening out, but by the looks of it, not much.

✔️ Price: Well, they are affordable! Dr. Scholl’s Pain Relief Orthotics for Plantar Fasciitis retail for $18.99 on Amazon.

✔️ Greater than 30 Day Return Policy: Dr. Scholl’s Pain Relief Orthotics for Plantar Fasciitis have a 90 day return policy.

❌ Made in the USA: Dr. Scholl's Pain Relief Orthotic Inserts are not made in the USA unfortunately, and at $18.99 we wouldn't expect them to be.

Whichever you choose to fight your fallen arches pain, choose now!

The longer you allow fallen arches pain to linger, the harder it is to get rid of, and the longer it will take!