Why Arch Support Matters: From Ancient History to Modern Innovations

Once you’ve discovered Arch Support, there’s no going back.

This seemingly insignificant piece of technology has been transforming lives for thousands (no, we’re not joking) of years! Arguably it is one of the easiest and most effective things you can do for your health. Yet, unless you have been specifically told about it (prescribed by a podiatrist, told by friends or family etc.) then most people have no idea. 

Well, consider this us telling you about it! In this blog we’re going to tell you everything about arch support. Why it’s important, the history behind it and where it’s going.

At The Comfort Co. we believe wellness starts from the ground up. So if you’re looking for overall wellness, making sure your arches are supported is a great place to start. 

Why Arch Support Matters

Walking typically places about 1 - 1.5 times your body weight on your foot. Running is worse, increasing that pressure to 3 - 4 times your body weight! Your foot's arch functions as a natural shock absorber, effectively dispersing the pressure across various parts of the foot with every step you take.

When your arches distribute pressure correctly, your body alignment stays balanced. However, if your arches are weak or misaligned, they lose their efficiency in absorbing shock, causing this pressure to transfer incorrectly. A misaligned step doesn't just affect your foot; it initiates a chain reaction, placing additional stress on your knees. Over time, this misalignment and stress travel upward to impact your hips and lower back.

Maintaining proper arch support is the most simple thing you can do to prevent this. Adequate support ensures even pressure distribution, and makes sure every step you take is an aligned one. Which in turn reduces the risk of injury and enhances overall comfort. 

When The Comfort Co talks about Arch Support being a crucial part of our Comfort Recipe, this is why. You may not feel the benefits and comfort of Arch Support straight away, but over time we know it’ll play a huge part of your comfort story. 

A Walk Through History: Origins of Arch Support

Over the past decade or so Arch Support has been having a moment. What’s surprising however is that its history actually goes back thousands of years! The earliest documented evidence of arch support comes from Ancient Egypt in around the year 1500 BCE! Sandals made from Papyrus were seen to have arch support woven in and slightly raised heels to relieve pressure. 

Hippocrates

Arch Support and Foot Health in general jumped forward in leaps and bounds through the work of Hippocrates in around 500 BCE. Hippocrates is seen as “The Father of Medicine” and his work laid the groundwork for orthopedic principles still used today. Hippocrates' principles relied heavily on a whole body view of wellness. His focus on limb alignment and the treatment of foot injuries played a major factor in our understanding of foot health even today. 

The Dark Ages

Jump forward another thousand years to the Dark Ages (500-1000 AD) and you’ll find clear evidence of Hippocrates' teachings being taken on en masse. Shoemakers in this period were starting to recognise the importance of arch support and would regularly incorporate arch supports into custom leather shoes. 

The Industrial Revolution & Dr. William Mathaias Scholl

This all changed in the industrial revolution (1760). Mass production neglected that hand made support that was provided by shoemakers and towards the late 1800s people were starting to feel it. This spurred the design of very early orthotics to remedy the negative effects. 

These orthotics were effective, but expensive. Meaning that the majority of everyday people would have to miss out on the benefits. For Dr. William Mathias Scholl, this simply wasn’t good enough and he set out to do something about it. In 1904, Dr Scholl created the Foot-Eazer, the world’s first commercially available arch support insert. This invention changed the face of footcare forever and Scholl has been innovating ever since (which is of course why today they are a Comfort Co brand).

Dr Phillip Vasyli

Not much changed in the world of arch support for the next 70 or so years. Over the counter inserts were doing great things for everyday people. But the podiatrist designed custom inserts were still the way forward for those with real foot conditions that needed correction. Unfortunately, the price of these inserts didn’t change much either and they were still far too expensive for many. 

That was until 1979, when Dr Phillip Vasyli created the world’s first heat-moldable orthotic. Every foot is different, so this was an absolute game-changer for foot health. It allowed people to get that “custom orthotic” feel for a fraction of the price. 

This passion for democratising foot health allowing everyday people the opportunity to experience foot care technology eventually led to the creation of monumental shoe brand Vionic (another brand in the Comfort Co roster, funny that…) whose vision was to create footwear that people actually WANTED to wear with revolutionary footcare technology built right in. 

Arch Support has a rich, full history and technology is only getting better! Comfort has stepped its way to the forefront of consumers' desires. The Comfort Co wants to lead the way in this comfortable new world by working with only the best

The Science Behind Arch Support

The foot consists of 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. These components intricately coordinate to provide balance, mobility, and stability with every step you take. Even a minor misalignment or imbalance in one area can negatively impact the entire kinetic chain, affecting your overall body posture, movement efficiency, and comfort.

Understanding arch types is crucial because each type significantly influences how pressure is distributed throughout your feet:

• Normal Arch: Ideal alignment, evenly distributing pressure and balancing flexibility and support.
• Flat Feet (Overpronation): Arch collapses inward, potentially causing knee, hip, and back discomfort.
• High Arches (Underpronation/Supination): Reduced shock absorption, increasing stress and risk of injuries like stress fractures

When your arches lack proper support, excess strain transfers upward through the kinetic chain, impacting ankles, knees, hips, and the lower back. This imbalance can lead to common conditions such as plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the plantar fascia causing heel pain), shin splints (pain along the shinbone due to repetitive stress), and Achilles tendonitis (inflammation and pain at the back of the ankle).

Proper arch support is not merely about comfort; it actively realigns your posture, enhancing the body's biomechanical efficiency. This reduces muscular fatigue, prevents chronic pain conditions, and significantly improves overall mobility and quality of life.

Modern Innovations & Future Directions

COVID-19 changed everything, people realised we didn’t have to “dress to the nines” in uncomfortable attire to be productive. Comfort is now at the forefront of people’s minds and the shoe industry has responded. Not only have we seen high fashion brands release comfy options, research is jumping ahead in leaps and bounds. 

The future looks bright for Arch Support! 

Aetrex Foot Scanning - Aetrex has installed high tech foot-scanners in stores all over the world. These scanners provide much better foot size insights than anything we’ve seen before, including what arch-type you’ve got. This information is used to give customers the recommendations for what will surely be the best fitting, most comfortable pair of shoes they’ve ever had! 

They also use this data to give insights on feet from region to region around the world. They’re able to see foot averages for certain parts of the world, and design their shoes to reflect that.

Custom 3D-Printed Orthotics - As incredible as over-the-counter insoles are becoming, there’s still nothing quite like a custom orthotic from a podiatrist. 3D printing has made them even better! This technology allows podiatrists to get precise mapping of their patients feet to create orthotics that perfectly match their unique arch structure. 

Advanced Materials - The Comfort Co’s designers are always keeping their ears to the ground for the latest greatest materials that would be beneficial for insoles. Technology like Memory Foam, EVA & Moisture wicking fabrics have made what was already a great product even better! 

Adaptable Arch Support - All feet are different, and some people like more support than others. Before, you’d take what you were given. Now, you can adjust your level of support to suit you! Vitasole Insoles contain a Support Booster, which allows you to raise the arch profile to work around you. 

The Comfort Co Comfort Recipe -  Decades of design and comfort experience means we have become good at what we do. Our Comfort Recipe (Arch Support, Fit Technology & Premium Cushioning) is second-to-none and we’ve been implementing it in every pair of shoes we make. If it’s one of our brand partners where we don’t have control of production, we ensure that they uphold our standards of comfort. 

Future Directions:

AI-Powered Personalization - AI could be used to analyse gait data and foot scans, automatically generating custom orthotic designs and recommendations.  
Aetrex is currently playing around with this technology. 

Bioprinting - In the future, bioprinting could allow for the creation of orthotics using biological materials, potentially improving biocompatibility and comfort.

Integration with Wearable Technology - Arch support technology could be integrated with other wearable devices, providing a comprehensive view of foot health and overall well-being.

Sustainable Materials - Increased focus on using eco-friendly and sustainable materials in arch support products.

Advanced Sensor Technology - Development of even more accurate and sensitive sensors to provide real time feedback on foot health, and performance.  

Dynamic Arch Support - The development of arch support that can change its level of support, based on the activity being performed. For example, more support for running, and less for casual walking.

Practical Tips: Choosing the Right Arch Support

Our number one tip to ensure that you’re getting shoes with great arch support is to simply buy your shoes at The Comfort Co. If for some reason you can’t do that, here’s what we recommend. 

Test your Arch Support:

- Check midsole firmness—it shouldn't collapse easily.
- Ensure the heel counter is firm and secures your foot comfortably.
- Consult a podiatrist if pain persists despite footwear changes.

Get a pair of insoles: 

With the right slip in insoles you can turn most pairs of shoes into arch supporting dreams. Check out the range at The Comfort Co. If you don’t know where to start with Arch Support, grab the Sole Essentials bundle for everything you need to start living your comfy supported best life! 

Conclusion

Arch support has a surprisingly rich history and isn’t going anywhere. Once you’ve tried it you’ll realise just how integral to overall health, performance, and quality of life it can be.

By taking the easy step of ensuring you’re taking advantage of it can significantly increase your comfort and prevent wildly avoidable long-term health issues. 

At the Comfort Co, we believe that wellness begins from the ground up, and arch support is the best way to start!