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Are the Archies any good for supporting the foot arch?

The popular brand name of footwear, the Archies Arch Support Thongs were created by a physical therapist from Melbourne, Australia. Around Australia they call ‘thongs’ what the rest of the world terms ‘flip flops’ which can create a great deal of misunderstanding and some comedy as in Australia thongs does not refer to a scanty item of underwear. This sort of footwear does provide an excellent alternative to popular flat thongs and sandals, whilst at the same time giving some good orthotic type arch support and are unbelievably comfortable. The height of arch support they have is quite comparable to what you can buy in the store in the retail version of arch supports. Because of this they can easily be used instead of foot orthotics or as a possible adjunct to foot orthotics if you can't use the foot orthotics. If you wear foot orthotics yet find it too difficult during the hotter weather climates to use your foot supports as much as you should, then the Archies can be a option for this problem. Most people who use them just love wearing Archies thongs around the house to save walking on hard tiles or flooring.

The Archies Arch Support Thongs come in a range of sizes, colours and are ultra-lightweight and they are considered high on fashion and desirability. This kind of footwear is very consistent with the lifestyle in Australia. They can be bought online and many podiatry and therapy clinics are also stocking them since they are selling that well. Most of these clinicians which offer them often comment that virtually anybody who tries on a pair will buy them since they are that comfortable. It is often telling that these clinicians, their staff as well as their families who have a pair. People who use them like them. Even though the product launched in Australia, now it is spreading internationally.

 

Are there any alternatives to using foot orthotics?

Foot orthotics or supports are designed to correct biomechanical issues of the foot and to strengthen the biomechanics of the foot. There are lots of various kinds of foot orthotics and methods of making them for doctors to use and select from. A lot of people need and do benefit from customizable foot orthoses while others might be helped by the easier and less expensive mass-produced foot supports. Which one is best for each individual depends on what exactly is causing the problems and what the treating clinician advises is the best for that individual. All different foot orthoses have got unique design features and a good clinician will attempt and match those up to the requirements of the individual. If this is not done properly, then there may not be any improvement in the symptoms.

Foot orthotics are not without their issues. If they are not the right choice for the individual, they'll likely will not work. You are also restricted by what footwear you can use, in that you need to be able to fit them into the shoe and there may not be adequate room. There are also types of shoes, just like the flip flops which they simply can't be used in. This tends to cause an issue in warmer climates which make closed in shoes meant for foot orthotics uncomfortable. There are alternatives, for example, the Archies which have a foot support built in. The design of the arch supports in these flip flops resemble what you would get in an over-the-counter arch support, but most likely not as good as what you would get from a custom made foot support. Using these do give you a practical option to foot supports, depending on where you can wear them and the character of the biomechanical issue. If you do need foot orthotics there isn't any harm in trying these kinds of choices or raising it with your treating podiatrist to determine what they think.