Wait, what are orthotic insoles in the first place? That’s a great question! Orthotic insoles, also known as orthotic inserts, or simply as shoe inserts, are a specially engineered type of insole that you can insert into your shoes or boots. They provide extra support for your feet in many different ways.
Orthotic inserts treat many feet, back and leg problems, but they are very beneficial for anyone who generally puts a lot of distance on their shoes from day to day, whether you work long hours or just have a job that keeps you on your feet or you are always on the move—orthotic inserts will help support your feet, even if you are running!
How They Actually Work
Here’s a rundown of all the ways that Orthotic Insoles are specially designed to give your feet better support:
- Impact/Shock Absorption: Orthotic inserts are made of a special material that acts as an extra cushion between your feet and your shoes. Think of it like the suspension on a car: when the car hits a bump in the road, there are springs that help soften the impact so the car isn’t damaged.
- Arch Support: Orthotic inserts are designed with a special raise in the arch area to help support your foot arch throughout the day
- Foot Sidewall Support: Likewise with the arch area, the inserts have raised sidewalls to help keep the sides of your feet support and in place during the day, resulting in less free movement in your shoe that might cause cramping, blisters, or discomfort
- Heel Support: Inserts have a recessed heel bed with raised support on the far outsides of the heel area, allowing your heels to rest comfortably in your shoe or boot
What do Orthotic Insoles Treat?
Orthotic inserts are actually quite fascinating, just given the sheer number of different ailments that they help treat and prevent:
- Fallen arch
- High arch
- Shin splints
- Tendonitis
- Bunions
- Back/Hip pain
- Foot pain, cramps and soreness
- Support for flat feet
- Heel spurs
- Pronation/Underpronation
- Supination
- Blisters (caused by bad or worn insoles)
- Plantar fasciitis
- Leg length descrepancy
- Achilles tendonitis
- Morton’s neuroma
- Knee/ankle joint pain and joint wear
Do I Remove My Original Insoles Before I put Orthotic Insoles in My Shoes or Boots?
Sometimes you will and sometimes you won’t; it entirely depends on the size of your existing shoe. If you feel like you have extra room in your shoe, we recommend leaving your existing (original) insole in your shoe or boot, and adding the orthotic insert on top of it. This is the ideal method, since it gives you the support of both the original shoe insole and the added orthotic insole.
If you find that your shoe becomes too tight when adding the orthotic insert, you can remove the existing insole (especially if it is excessively worn) and this may increase your comfort the most.
How Will I Know if the Inserts I am Buying Will Fit My Shoe?
Orthotic insoles are typically sold in universal sizes (example: a size Medium may fit US men’s shoe sizes 7 - 9.5 and women’s sizes 9 - 11.5). What truly makes orthotic insoles universal, though, is that they are made of a very flexible material—so if you need to trim the insert down a bit, you can do so with a regular pair of scissors to shape it to fit your specific shoe type.
Are Orthotic Insoles Worth It?
Absolutely. The best orthotic inserts typically last the entire lifetime of your shoe. Since they are very affordable (far less money than a new pair of nice shoes) - it is definitely a worthwhile investment to take care of your feet.
Where Can I Buy Orthotic Insoles?
Physix Gear Sport is the world leader in orthotic inserts with shock absorption for runners, walkers, doers and anyone suffering from plantar fasciitis, flat feet, heel spurs, or any one of a host of other issues listed above—orthotic inserts can treat it all and you will feel great again!
Your feet work hard; give them the rejuvenation they deserve. Best of all, Physix Gear has a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, so you can try them risk-free. If orthotic inserts don’t make your feet feel better, return them and get your money back!