Orthotics or as they’re more commonly know, Insoles, are an insertable support placed into your shoe. You’ll see them in lots of shops and they come in all shapes and sizes. Some have gel sole and some have a hard sole but what do they actually do? And should you wear one?
The practicality behind an insole lies in it’s ability to manipulate the “posture” of your foot. Certain postures in your foot, such over-pronation (“flat feet”), and over-supination (“high arches”) can be risk factors for injuries. Orthotics are designed to hold your foot in a more ‘neutral’ position so as to redistribute forces more evenly across your foot and therefore helping to reduce the symptoms of lower limb injuries. Shin pain, heel pain, tendon injuries and knee pain are all conditions that can potentially be aided through the use of an orthotic.
Hard-sole Orthotics are much more beneficial than gel insoles as they tend to hold their shape a lot longer than gel soles do. This means they will last longer and be more effective at holding your foot in position. If you feel like an orthotic may benefit you or are struggling with lower limb injuries you can contact us to discuss. We carry out a full assessment of your lower limb biomechanics and feet to determine if you would benefit from an orthotic or not. For higher level athletes and runners we use a treadmill assessment to monitor how your foot lands as you run and in particular fatigue.
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