Which insoles

Orthotics provide structural support for your feet to correct abnormalities and functional foot problems or to take the pressure off of sore or injured areas. Conditions that can benefit from orthotic inserts and support include:. Although orthotics can be made to fit your feet, they need to work with your footwear to provide you with the best support to properly address your foot and ankle problems. To make the right choice of orthotic insert, you need to understand your feet and the problems you're trying to correct or support.

Some over-the-counter cushioned inserts for your shoes provide some comfort but mask the problem. The ultimate goal for using orthotics is to properly support your foot and correct any functional problems. For plantar fasciitis, a painful condition in which the connective tissue running from the heel over the sole of your foot becomes inflamed, you require good arch support and cushioning. Orthotics can help correct an overpronating foot — when your foot rolls too far inward and causes instability in your ankle.

Supination, or underpronation, is the opposite problem — when the foot turns outward. Both problems can impact your knees, hips, and back. Semi-rigid Support: This types is somewhere in the middle of rigid and soft and is often made up of a combination of supportive materials like plastic, leather, cork and foam.

Mainly used by sports people. Do you need insoles? As with all our advice, it is merely a guideline to point you in the right direction, we always advise that you first check in with a medical professional to ascertain the best course of action for your issue You could benefit from using a soft support insole if you have: Bunions or experience bunion pain — Bunions are formed when the big toe pushes against the second toe.

It has a pronounced bulging out on the inside of the foot where the ball is and bunions are caused by tight shoes, foot stress and arthritis. For mild bunion discomfort, a gel insole can offer some relief. For added relief, try putting the insoles in the fridge for a while before you use them. Hammertoes - A flat foot is cited as one of the causes of hammertoes, so an insole that supports the arch is a good idea, try to find an insole with a slightly pronounced bump just behind that ball of the foot, this bump applies pressure to the arch which forces the toes to straighten out a bit, thereby relieving the pressure on your toes.

This material is also the choice of podiatrists and custom insole makers for precisely these benefits. Shoes that need to fit a bit more snugly- if your shoes are somewhat big, insoles can help to fill up space so they fit more snugly.

Better fitting shoes mean less chafing which means less risk of corns or blisters forming. Pain under your feet that comes from worn out soles- if this pain has nothing to do with any medical condition, try memory foam insoles to extend the wear on the inside of your shoes. One of the most common symptoms associated with this condition is backache. A podiatrist will be able to tell you just how big the difference is and if its really minor, a comfort support insole will do the trick.

Over-supination , which is the opposite to the condition described above. The foot rolls too far outward so your shoes wear away on the outer lip of the sole.

A rigid insole will correct this issue by forcing your foot to roll more inward. As with insoles for over-pronation, a deep, supportive heel cup is key in stabilizing the foot. Weight issues that put strain on your knees and ankles, a rigid insole will help to distribute the weight evenly over the base of your foot.

They should also be wider that usual to accommodate the force applied during standing and walking. Pronounced differences in leg lengths , this type of insole addresses discrepancies in leg lengths by elevating the shorter leg without compromising the way it needs to function.

Unlike the inserts we suggest for minor differences, pronounced differences will require that you see a podiatrist or pedorthist to create a custom orthotic for you. Plantar Fasciitis - this intense pain comes from the large flat muscle that stretches from your heel to your toes call the plantar. Undue stress, over stretching it when wearing heels for example or being on your feet all day contribute to the over-stretching of this muscle.

They also tend not to be full-length insoles and need to be positioned correctly for them to be effective.

You could benefit from using a semi-rigid support insole if you: Play high-impact sports such as squash- Squash can be brutal on your feet and knees, and constant lunging, running side to side and jumping are bound to take their toll on your feet. Shock absorption is a key factor to look out for when buying insoles specific to this sport. This is primarily from wearing pointed shoes, super high shoes that force your foot to place undue stress on the forefoot ball or shoes that are unnecessarily tight, particularly in the toe-box area.

Shoes that have a heel and a higher than normal lift in the front called a toe-spring will place more stress on these nerves and lead to the formation of a neuroma. Metatarsal pads work wonders here by spreading the metatarsal bones and taking pressure off the nerve- the placement of this pad is really vital, so it is recommended that you visit a foot care provider to guide you. How to measure yourself for online insole buying Most reputable online retailers provide in-depth measurements and measuring tools for consumers who shop online- but, a savvy way of ensuring your shoes fit to the tee, would be to not only focus on the actual size you think you wear but to actually fit to the measurement of the sole of your foot.

Mark the heel out holding the pen perpendicular to the foot- now extend the line, using a ruler from the curved end of the heel to the outside of the foot Get the person helping you to mark the spot where the ball of your foot touches the paper- if you have normal arches- this will be quite obvious to spot as it will be the part that touches the paper in front of the gap that your arch will make.

If you have fallen arches, this ball position should be identified from the top of the foot but finding the ball position with your fingers, then touching the paper in exactly the same position and marking that off.

Most basically, an orthotic is any device inserted into a shoe designed to provide comfort and support for the foot. There are different types of inserts and insoles including over-the-counter shoe inserts and custom orthotics also known as orthopedic insoles. Over-the-counter, or aftermarket, shoe inserts are available without having to go to your doctor or podiatrist. They come in short-length and full-length. Also called "partial" shoe inserts, short-length shoe inserts come in a wide range of products with varying quality.

The most common partial shoe inserts include heel cups, heel lifts, metatarsal pads and short insoles:. Most podiatrists agree that arch-support insoles are key to providing comfort and preventing injury. But you can't go halfway with your support. As podiatrist Jamie Mieras says , "If you can press down the arch, it's not stable enough. Unlike over-the-counter shoe inserts, custom orthotics also called orthopedic insoles , are prescribed by a doctor and constructed for your feet.

There are two types of custom shoe inserts:. Beware of mail-order custom orthotics that have you to take an impression of your foot in a box of compressible foam. You're essentially making a 3D model of your foot with these kits, however it takes a podiatrist or pedorthist to successfully create a 3D model that does not build in your biomechanical problem.

Now that you know about all the different types of insoles available to you, it's time to sort out which one is best suited to your needs. Should you buy an over-the-counter insole or do you need to see a podiatrist to get a custom orthotic? When it comes to custom orthotics, you want to be sure you really need them as they're quite expensive and not typically covered by health insurance.

Who should be getting custom orthotics? People with diabetes, high-performing athletes, and people with serious biomechanical issues and reoccurring injuries.