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Insoles with arch support improve stability and scores

2 studies · 45 archers measured

ForContextAgainst2022202420262025, context, n = 302022, for, n = 152022, context, n = 15
Each circle is a study: its position gives the year, its row whether it is for, against or context, its size how many participants it measured. Light circles are studies on other populations or without archers.

There is a single study, and the result in favour is small. 15 national-level university compound archers shot 15 arrows at 30 metres, first with a flat insole and then with one supporting the arch: with the second, the mean score per arrow rises from 9.58 to 9.74 and the centre of pressure moves less, on the rear foot in every direction, on the bow-side foot only front to back. The total sway area of the two feet, however, does not change (6.22 against 6.63 square centimetres, p = 0.182), effect sizes lie between 0.16 and 0.49, and the conditions came in a fixed order, so the gain cannot be separated from getting used to the test. The mechanical premise is plausible, since at full draw a compound archer carries about two thirds of their weight on the bow-side foot and almost half the total on its heel, but a 2025 measurement of 30 Indian archers finds no link between foot shape, normal, pronated or supinated, and sway in a balance test. Nobody has tested insoles on the recurve.

Also phrased as: "insoles for archery"; "the right shoes for shooting"; "arch support and stability"; "insoles and score"

In practice

Archers are sometimes advised to use an insole or a shoe with good arch support to stand steadier on the shooting line, especially if they spend many hours on their feet in competition.

Evidence

  • 2022
    For Archers Published later

    15 national-level university compound archers, 15 arrows at 30 m with each insole, first the flat one and then the arch-support one, without randomisation: mean score per arrow 9.74 ± 0.19 against 9.58 ± 0.20 (p < 0.001, effect size 0.38).

    Arch-Support Insoles Benefit the Archery Performance and Stability of Compound Archers · Ting-Ting Wu, Shin-Liang Lo, Hui Chen, Jeng-Sheng Yang, Hsien-Te Peng

  • 2022
    For Archers Published later

    With the arch-support insole the centre of pressure moves less, but not everywhere. Rear foot: front to back 1.86 ± 1.27 against 3.95 ± 2.27 cm (p < 0.001, effect size 0.49), side to side 1.47 ± 2.41 against 3.68 ± 4.98 cm (p = 0.009), area 8.87 against 9.38 cm² (p = 0.033, effect size 0.16). Bow-side foot: front to back 1.56 ± 1.30 against 4.55 ± 4.64 cm (p = 0.022), side to side 0.74 against 2.32 cm (p = 0.134), area 9.86 against 9.68 cm² (p = 0.476). Both feet together: front to back 1.34 ± 0.83 against 2.51 ± 1.76 cm and side to side 2.61 ± 3.31 against 6.75 ± 7.05 cm (p = 0.014 for both), but the total area does not change (6.22 ± 6.10 against 6.63 ± 6.58 cm², p = 0.182).

    Arch-Support Insoles Benefit the Archery Performance and Stability of Compound Archers · Ting-Ting Wu, Shin-Liang Lo, Hui Chen, Jeng-Sheng Yang, Hsien-Te Peng

  • 2022
    Context Archers Published later

    How a compound archer stands at full draw, on the flat insole: 43.72 ± 8.75% of plantar pressure under the heel of the bow-side foot, 21.58% under its forefoot, 20.21% under the forefoot of the rear foot and 14.50% under its heel. The arch-support insole shifts some load from the heel of the bow-side foot (40.18%, p = 0.016) to the forefoot of the rear foot (22.75%, p = 0.014). This is the mechanical premise of the insole: it makes it plausible without proving it.

    Arch-Support Insoles Benefit the Archery Performance and Stability of Compound Archers · Ting-Ting Wu, Shin-Liang Lo, Hui Chen, Jeng-Sheng Yang, Hsien-Te Peng

  • 2025
    Context Archers Published later

    30 Indian professional archers aged 20-30, foot shape assessed with the Foot Posture Index and sway with a platform balance test (m-CTSIB), not while shooting: 17 out of 30 are classified as swaying, and foot shape is not linked to sway (left foot p = 0.241, right p = 0.165, Cramér's V below 0.1). Pronated feet show sway less often than normal ones (25.00% against 68.42% on the left), but the difference is not significant. It does not test insoles: it touches the mechanism on which the claim rests.

    Exploring the relationship between postural sway and foot posture among archers: A comparative analysis · Divya Gohil, Nidhi Yadav, Gaurang Baxi

Status history

  1. 2022 Reported The first and only study to test insoles puts 15 university compound archers first on a flat insole and then on an arch-support one, 15 arrows at 30 metres per condition: with the second, the mean score per arrow rises from 9.58 to 9.74 and the centre of pressure moves less, mainly on the rear foot. The total sway area does not change, the effects are small and the order was fixed, so the gain cannot be told apart from getting used to the test. A single study with small effects: reported.
  2. 2025 Reported A measurement arrives that touches the premise without testing the insole: in 30 Indian professional archers, foot shape, normal, pronated or supinated, is not linked to sway in a balance test (p = 0.241 and 0.165, Cramér's V below 0.1). If foot shape does not show in balance, the reason why arch support should improve it weakens, but nobody has put the insole back to the test and the status stays reported.

Related

Related articles

Research lines

Cite
APA

Campagna, M. (2026). Insoles with arch support improve stability and scores (Version 1). In Evidence Registry. Retrieved 16 October 2026, from https://matteocampagna.com/en/registry/technique/arch-support-insoles

BibTeX
@misc{campagna2026_plantaristabilita,
  author = {Campagna, Matteo},
  title = {Insoles with arch support improve stability and scores},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Evidence Registry, matteocampagna.com},
  url = {https://matteocampagna.com/en/registry/technique/arch-support-insoles},
  note = {Version 1; accessed 2026-10-16}
}

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