The Flex is our most flexible maintainer; designed to support all four arches with a material that gracefully flexes with the foot during gait, or even high-impact sports. The Flex is sturdy enough to support all four arches, and yet easily compresses under pressure, to spring back under the arch. Its opaque color makes it a favorite of summer sandal-wearers, who find the Flex can fit comfortably in even the highest heels.
Flexibility: Flexible
The Flex is actually named for its flexibility; it is made of a springy compound that bounces back after each compression. The Flex is so flexible that most customers feel comfortable in it right away, and it’s a “must-have” for those tighter-fitting dress shoes and sandals. The Flex is the perfect maintainer for those with flatter or more sensitive feet, since its low profile and gentle flexion allow it to follow the contours of any foot.
What’s in a Flex?
Metatarsal Rise
The “front” end of the Flex features a small lump. This is called the “metatarsal rise,” and it is designed to help take pressure off the ball of the foot and the toes every time the foot takes a step.
What Does It Do, And How Can It Help?
By properly supporting the metatarsal arch, the metatarsal rise lifts up the bones in the ball of the foot, effectively preventing them from hitting the ground too hard every time the foot pushes off for a step. This means that the metatarsal rise in the Flex can help reduce pain caused by corns, calluses, and excess pressure on the ball of the foot. The Flex is great for helping to create more room for the toes in tight dress shoes, by alleviating pressure from over-stressed toes.
The metatarsal rise on the Flex is much less aggressive than the same feature in the Exerciser arch supports. The Flex’s metatarsal rise is designed to provide flexible support to the active foot, preventing the ball of the foot from hitting the ground too hard and distributing pressure away from the toes.
On the Flex, the metatarsal rise helps to support the ligaments and tendons in the forefoot as the entire foot works during strenuous or sports activities. The Flex’s metatarsal rise conforms more to the foot, which means it provides just enough support to take pressure off the ball of the foot, without interfering with the foot as it adapts to uneven terrain. The flexibility of the Flex helps it accommodate the needs of the athletic foot for every sport or casual activity.
Heel Platform
The heel end of the Flex is a “heel platform;” a tapered end that fits the shape of the heel, yet does not cup the fatty pad of the heel to align each step. The heel platform helps to support the transverse arch, while allowing enough freedom for the heel to roll and twist naturally during sports and leisure activities.
What Does It Do, And How Can It Help?
The heel platform of the Flex supports the Transverse arch, which is located in front of the heel. This arch includes a sensitive spot where the very important Plantar Fascia ligament connects to the heel bone. By supporting the transverse arch, the Flex can help protect the heel against inflammation of the Plantar Fascia ligament, while still allowing the foot the freedom it needs to perform during sports or leisure activities.
Though it supports the heel during gait, the heel platform on the Flex is primarily designed to promote the ideal alignment of the foot during athletic and leisure activities. Because the heel platform on the Flex allows the heel to move, the Flex is ideal for use during sports that require the foot to roll or propel the body from side to side, such as tennis or basketball. Many happy athletes use the Flex as part of their complete arch support system.
The lower profile of the heel platform allows the Flex to fit comfortably in open-heeled dress shoes, with the aid of Good Feet Velcro attached to the bottom of the support. Many happy customers use the Flex every day to ensure all four arches of each foot are supported in all of their fashion-forward shoes.
Inner And Outer Longitudinal Arch Support
The Flex also features support for the inner and outer arches of the feet. These are designed to stabilize the foot during gait, to help prevent it rolling inward or outward with each step.
What Does It Do, And How Does It Help?
By supporting all four arches of the foot, the Flex helps to properly distribute pressure through the entire foot, thereby preventing any one part of the foot from taking on too much pressure. This can help alleviate pain in areas of the foot that are straining under too much stress.
The Flex’s inner and outer longitudinal arches stabilize the foot during gait, helping to prevent pronation and supination (rolling inward or outward). By stabilizing the foot, the Flex helps to promote proper gait, thereby reducing excess stress in the ankles, knees and hips. Because the Flex is very flexible, it perfectly meets the maintainer needs of all four arches, for those who have sensitive or flatter feet.
As part of a complete Good Feet Arch Support System, the Flex is ideal for:
Walking
Weightlifting
Working (boots, shoes, etc.)
Running and contact sports
Leisure, casual and dress shoes
