Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi all,
Vanilla are planning an update to the site on April 24th (next Wednesday). It is a major PHP8 update which is expected to boost performance across the site. The site will be down from 7pm and it is expected to take about an hour to complete. We appreciate your patience during the update.
Thanks all.

Lightweight orthotics for runners

Options
  • 21-04-2015 5:10pm
    #1
    jahaco
    Registered Users Posts: 118 ✭✭


    I have had a pair of customised orthotics that were obtained for me by a physio a while back. They're heavy and more designed I think for street shoes than runners. It's dawned on me that my sore (burning!) soles during longer distance races (half and full marathons) could be down to the materials used in the orthotics (I used to think it was the socks) and that what I need is a specialised sports orthotic that would be lightweight and possibly also allow my foot to be more comfortable (but otherwise customised and not off the shelf).

    Does such a thing exist?


Comments

  • Options
    #2
    tunguska
    Registered Users Posts: 3,545 ✭✭✭tunguska


    jahaco wrote: »
    I have had a pair of customised orthotics that were obtained for me by a physio a while back. They're heavy and more designed I think for street shoes than runners. It's dawned on me that my sore (burning!) soles during longer distance races (half and full marathons) could be down to the materials used in the orthotics (I used to think it was the socks) and that what I need is a specialised sports orthotic that would be lightweight and possibly also allow my foot to be more comfortable (but otherwise customised and not off the shelf).

    Does such a thing exist?

    Have you tried weening yourself off the orthotics? It can be done, I did it myself. Calves will be tight at first and you'd have to back off on the mileage and sessions for a few weeks, but your legs will adapt fairly quickly. I know you might be wary of trying this, I was too, but its worth giving it a go because the feeling of running without an orthotic is pretty amazing and worth the effort.


  • Options
    #3
    Ed Mc
    Closed Accounts Posts: 261 ✭✭Ed Mc


    tunguska wrote:
    Have you tried weening yourself off the orthotics? It can be done, I did it myself. Calves will be tight at first and you'd have to back off on the mileage and sessions for a few weeks, but your legs will adapt fairly quickly. I know you might be wary of trying this, I was too, but its worth giving it a go because the feeling of running without an orthotic is pretty amazing and worth the effort.


    I recently got orthotics for a suppination issue. Have broken them into every day use and they have really helped but found them too firm for landing on during running.

    When you weened yourself off them did you continue with the same running technique/gait or adapt it to suit what the orthotics were compensating for.


  • Options
    #4
    jahaco
    Registered Users Posts: 118 ✭✭jahaco


    tunguska wrote: »
    Have you tried weening yourself off the orthotics? It can be done, I did it myself. Calves will be tight at first and you'd have to back off on the mileage and sessions for a few weeks, but your legs will adapt fairly quickly. I know you might be wary of trying this, I was too, but its worth giving it a go because the feeling of running without an orthotic is pretty amazing and worth the effort.

    Thanks for the suggestion tunguska. I did try recently to run without them but ended up with blisters and foot pain. I find it hard to reduce mileage as I am generally always in training for something. I might resort to that again if I can't find a lightweight comfortable solution.


  • Options
    #5
    Clearlier
    Registered Users Posts: 4,454 ✭✭✭Clearlier


    Hi Jahaco,

    I second Tunguska's recommendation having also ditched my orthotics.

    Assuming that you do want to go ahead I had a good experience with Dave Kingston in LCBL. They're expensive at €350 nearly 10 years ago but he kept going at it until the problem I had was resolved which was not my experience with other providers.

    As a good general rule of thumb I'd advise looking for orthotics from an orthotist or a podiatrist as they have a significantly higher level of expertise in this area than other professions.


Advertisement