Why don’t Dr. Scholl arch supports relieve my arch pain?
Sometimes over-the-counter (OTC) arch supports do relieve arch pain – when they don’t, it is often because the support is insufficient or is not specific enough. If you buy a pair of inserts from the pharmacy, the left and right are symmetrical. Your feet are not necessarily so. You may need a pair of inserts professionally made that are specific to your foot structure and function. Also, arch pain has SO many potential origins. You could have a nerve impingement in your low back, the beginnings of diabetic nerve damage, or arthritis in the ball of your foot. All of these could cause arch pain without causing similar levels of pain at the source. Q: Are x-rays enough to tell the source of a foot problem? A: NO. An examination of the foot and ankle is functional, not just structural. A full exam includes, but is not limited to, having a patient stand, walk and perform simple muscle strength tests. Asymmetrical function can tell a great deal about how pain developed and therefore how to
