Why do you need orthopedic insoles and how to choose them?

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The best option is to seek help from a doctor.

What are orthopedic insoles and why are they needed?

Orthopedic insoles are embossed inserts for shoes. Not everyone needs them. However, in some cases, the relief of orthopedic insoles plays an important role and can significantly make a person's life easier.

The main task of orthopedic insoles is to provide the foot with proper support. This helps reduce pressure on damaged areas of the sole or correct existing foot abnormalities.

Who needs orthopedic insoles

A classic example of a disorder in which it is desirable to wear orthopedic insoles is flat feet. Normally, the inner part of the foot is raised relative to the sole. Orthopedists call this area the arch. It is needed to provide cushioning when walking and running. With flat feet, there is almost no arch. As a result, the cushioning near the feet is bad. And this leads to increased stress on the foot, muscles and joints of the lower extremities.

People with flat feet often experience pain in their feet when walking, complain of aching legs, cramps, and changes in gait. In addition, flat feet increase the risk of developing arthritis, bone spurs, corns and calluses.

Relief orthopedic insoles form the missing arch, supporting the foot in the correct position. This relieves a person from pain when walking and helps reduce the risks of other musculoskeletal disorders.

But flat feet are not the only example of the use of orthopedic insoles. Orthopedists list diseases and symptoms in which it makes sense to think about buying insoles. Here they are:

Regular back pain. They can be caused by excessive strain on the spine and core muscles, which occurs due to the incorrect position of the foot while walking.

• Knee pain.
• Heel pain, deformation of the toes, constant corns.
• Arthritis.

Diabetes. With this disease, people sometimes lose sensation in their feet (a condition known as diabetic neuropathy), which is why they don't always realize that they need to change their posture and reduce the load on their feet. Orthotic insoles in this case help reduce excessive pressure on the foot – otherwise it can lead to the formation of corns and even ulcers on the sole.

Recent injuries to the feet and ankles.

How to choose orthopedic insoles

Globally, there are only two options:

1. Have custom-made insoles made by an orthopedist.
2. Buy ready-made products in a store.

The most competent way, of course, is the first. For the reason that first the orthopedic specialist will study in detail your symptoms and complaints about well-being, look into the medical history, assess the condition and biomechanics of the feet (how they work and what load they experience when walking or running), make a cast of them or simulate the project on the computer. Based on the results of the examination and on the basis of the cast or simulation, unique orthopedic insoles will be made for you that will effectively solve your problem.

But an individual order also has a minus price. The cost of orthopedic insoles created for a specific foot can reach 1.5 thousand hryvnias.

It is much easier and cheaper to buy ready-made shoe inserts. Embossed insoles can be found in pharmacies, shoe stores and even ordinary supermarkets.

Naturally, they will not be adjusted to your foot. Therefore, experts do not consider such insoles to be orthopedic (no matter how much the advertising calls them), and you should not expect special effectiveness from them. However, insoles attract with their low cost and availability. Orthopedists consider them a good trial option: if the problem is minor — for example, you are upset by calluses that appear regularly or fatigue in your legs, you can first experiment with store-bought inserts.

If you decide to stop at this option, make a conscious purchase. This is what the experts of the American Orthopedic Medical Association recommend.

Be sure to “try on” the insole

In other words, try to install it in the shoes in which you plan to use it. If the insole fits like a glove, this is a good option. If you cannot install it (for example, the liner has to be bent, or it does not completely cover the inner surface of the shoe), such a lining will be ineffective.

Remember the purpose for which you need an insole

If you want to get rid of corns, diabetic ulcers or prevent their appearance, you should choose the so-called accommodative insoles – they are made of soft shock-absorbing material. If your goal is to correct flat feet or other foot features, you will need rigid functional products: their relief should really support the foot, and not bend under your weight.

There is an easy way to determine what the insole you have chosen is intended for. If you can easily bend the insole at any point, it is an accommodative option. It will not cope with the support of the foot.

Try the insole

This is not always possible. However, if the store allows you to install the insole in the shoe and walk in it, be sure to take advantage of this and take a couple of steps. You should be comfortable. Even the slightest pressure or discomfort is a sure sign that the insole does not fit.

Don't chase cheapness

The cheaper the insole, the higher the risk that in a few days the inexpensive memory foam, EVA, silicone, gel or other filler included in it will sag under your weight. Thus, the insole will lose its shock-absorbing properties, and you will have to buy a new one.

For comparison: the service life of custom-made orthopedic insoles reaches 2-3 years. So in the long run, individual, truly orthopedic insoles may be a more economical option than cheap store-bought ones.