Hello. I'm Hiroki, a new employee at OLENO. Today I'd like to talk about the soles of the human foot.
I learned that OLENO's trail running socks and running socks are equipped with a support function called arch support , which reduces the strain on the feet.
As someone who will be promoting the appeal of OLENO at events, I have no choice but to first learn about its performance and try it out. So, this time I would like to summarize the necessity of arch support and the effects of socks with arch support .
【table of contents】
What specifically happens if the arch collapses?
・Does Art Support act as a sock or an insole?
Supports three arches
First of all, let's talk about what the arch is, which is included in the name arch support. It is an important part that exists on the sole of the foot and supports the body itself . It is made up of three arches: the transverse arch , the medial longitudinal arch , and the lateral longitudinal arch .
Each arch has the role of distributing weight , absorbing landing and shock , and supporting forward propulsion . They are also very important for stabilizing the body, with the medial longitudinal arch maintaining front-to-back balance , the lateral longitudinal arch torsion of the body , and the lateral arch maintaining left-to-right balance .
It's easy to imagine a tripod with a camera attached to it, and if one of the legs breaks, the tripod will fall over immediately. In the same way, if one of the three arches collapses, the balance will be lost.
What specifically happens if the arch collapses?
1) Pain and fatigue in the legs
When the arch collapses, the cushioning function of the foot decreases, and the shock of walking is easily transmitted directly to the sole of the foot, which makes the feet more likely to become tired and painful .
② Loss of balance throughout the body
When the arch collapses, the balance of the whole body is lost, and the burden on the ankles, knees, and hips increases, affecting the joints and muscles. This can cause secondary problems such as knee pain and back pain .
3) Foot deformity and walking problems
Collapse of the arch can cause foot deformities (such as flat feet and bunions) , which can make the center of gravity unstable when walking and make it difficult to walk properly. This can lead to poor posture when walking and put additional strain on the feet.
If the arch collapses, it will be a hassle to go outside. Or, in the worst case scenario, I might not be able to walk at all.
Is arch support the role of socks or insoles?
When you hear about arch support, the first thing that probably comes to mind is an insole you put inside your running shoes, right?
However, when I actually searched for "arch support insoles," I found a lot of negative opinions.
After doing some research, I found someone who wrote about why arch support insoles have a bad reputation (reference: https://mirai-iryou.com/itami/flatinsole/ )
Summary below
The arch structure of the foot is very strong against pressure from above, but weak against pressure from below . Therefore, if the arch is supported from below with an insole, it can cause foot pain or even reduce the function of the foot .
So, it seems that something as flat as possible is good for arch support, but the best thing to do is to wrap tape around it. However, it's a pain to wrap it every time, so socks with a taping effect are often used.
Taped socks
It may be easier to understand if you imagine socks with arch support as socks with the effect of taping. As you get tired or get older, the muscles that support the arch weaken, and the arch of your foot touches the ground. When that happens, you can't even think about arch support.
The role of socks with arch support is to forcibly pull up the area like taping, and prevent the muscles from dropping. There are cases where arch support is installed not only in sports socks, but also in everyday socks, but it is still rare.
So, then, is it possible that socks with arch support alone are enough to protect the arch? Not necessarily. Top runners even make insoles that fit their feet and put them in their shoes.
However, custom insoles are expensive, so if you do light running , go to the gym , or go mountain climbing, you might want to use socks with arch support that provide a little arch support without discomfort. I'll end this by remembering my mother's words, "Be prepared for anything."
We would also like to introduce the socks with arch support that we at OLENO have developed, so please take a look.
Socks with arch support for trail running
