Any recommendations for good quality reasonably priced insoles?

reddan

Hey folks,

I hope this is a relevant area for me to post this thread, but I desparately need some advice on where to pick up some good quality insoles at a non extortionant prices, so I can resume running again.

I developed a problem with my right foot where all the impact of my running or walking is hitting the same spot due to a slightly collapsed arch. This means that after a run - or a decent walk without well supported shoes - my foot can get painfully sore, and after a run it would cramp up completely on the wind down.

I was advised by a physiotherapist to try a range of excersises as well as getting a pair of insoles, through him of course, that would have set me back € 300. I simply can't afford this.

A friend of mine had a similar problem and reckons she managed to solve it with some more economical insoles, although they weren't tailored explicitly for her foot shape.

This sounds promising althogh my friend doesn't really run in them , which I am planning on doing.

If anyone has anythoughts or recommendations on this I'd very appreciative.

Happy new year everybody,

yit

reddan wrote: »

Hey folks,

I hope this is a relevant area for me to post this thread, but I desparately need some advice on where to pick up some good quality insoles at a non extortionant prices, so I can resume running again.

I developed a problem with my right foot where all the impact of my running or walking is hitting the same spot due to a slightly collapsed arch. This means that after a run - or a decent walk without well supported shoes - my foot can get painfully sore, and after a run it would cramp up completely on the wind down.

I was advised by a physiotherapist to try a range of excersises as well as getting a pair of insoles, through him of course, that would have set me back € 300. I simply can't afford this.

A friend of mine had a similar problem and reckons she managed to solve it with some more economical insoles, although they weren't tailored explicitly for her foot shape.

This sounds promising althogh my friend doesn't really run in them , which I am planning on doing.

If anyone has anythoughts or recommendations on this I'd very appreciative.

Happy new year everybody,

Hope this doesn't go down as medical advice. I'm a final year physio student myself, to be honest, biomechanically speaking, your insoles need to be tailored to your foot and there really isn't any such thing as high quality insoles that are cheap, you get what you pay for. Understandably, 300E is very expensive, your problem is that you are a runner so a lot of continuous high impact. Best bet is to get a good strong pair of running shoes with good heel support and maybe the Scholl insoles? I think they are around 20-30E, not great but better than some that you see for sale.

reddan

yit wrote: »

Hope this doesn't go down as medical advice. I'm a final year physio student myself, to be honest, biomechanically speaking, your insoles need to be tailored to your foot and there really isn't any such thing as high quality insoles that are cheap, you get what you pay for. Understandably, 300E is very expensive, your problem is that you are a runner so a lot of continuous high impact. Best bet is to get a good strong pair of running shoes with good heel support and maybe the Scholl insoles? I think they are around 20-30E, not great but better than some that you see for sale.

Hey Yit,

Thanks a lot for the advice, I see your point about the insoles, price wise, expensive but it makes sense.

Should I still be going for good heel support running shoes even if I got the tailor made insoles?

yit

Yes, without a doubt. The combination of the two will decrease the amount of force on your heel and foot, and also very importantly your knees, hips, and lower back.

Hanley

yit wrote: »

Yes, without a doubt. The combination of the two will decrease the amount of force on your heel and foot, and also very importantly your knees, hips, and lower back.

Running with good technique is probably a cheaper and better long term solution than putting a bandaid on it.

If someone came on and said their back hurt when deadlifting, there'd be complete outcry of someone suggested just putting a belt in to alleviate the pain.

dave13

I had this problem where my arches would get sore after 3-4 km of jogging, tried a couple of different runners(after gait analysis) with no luck.
Was put off by the €300 cost of proper insoles so tried the insoles from Elverys. They mould them to your feet instore and you can test in your runners while there.
Cost €50 if I recall but they did say i could bring them back within 30 days if they didn't work so gave me a decent chance to try them out. Might not work but no cost if they don't.

reddan

Thanks for the all the advice guys.

I've just come back from bleedin boots with a 40 odd euro pair of Scholl sporting insoles when I saw dave's email though.

I reckon I'll be saving for the dearer insoles and I'll grin and bear these ones in the mean time.

What Hanley says makes a lot of sense to me as well though, but I've never really thought about improving my running technique, would I need to see a pro?

Burkatron

Hanley wrote: »

Running with good technique is probably a cheaper and better long term solution than putting a bandaid on it.

If someone came on and said their back hurt when deadlifting, there'd be complete outcry of someone suggested just putting a belt in to alleviate the pain.

100% agree on this! Insoles are like a splint, they cause more problems long term then they fix! You only get the benefit from them when you're wearing them! Strengthening/retraining the muscles like anywhere else in the body is the only way to fix the issue long term (unless it's a structural problem)!

I've seen the below work on 3 people (so far) in conjuction with a decent rehab programme & treatment!
http://www.mortonsfoot.com

yit

Hanley wrote: »

Running with good technique is probably a cheaper and better long term solution than putting a bandaid on it.

If someone came on and said their back hurt when deadlifting, there'd be complete outcry of someone suggested just putting a belt in to alleviate the pain.

Insoles are not a band aid though?

Well using a belt while dead lifting doesn't function to decrease back pain, it's to stabilise your intra abdominal pressure

yit

Burkatron wrote: »

100% agree on this! Insoles are like a splint, they cause more problems long term then they fix! You only get the benefit from them when you're wearing them! Strengthening/retraining the muscles like anywhere else in the body is the only way to fix the issue long term (unless it's a structural problem)!

I've seen the below work on 3 people (so far) in conjuction with a decent rehab programme & treatment!
http://www.mortonsfoot.com

Don't know where you got your info from but what you said about insoles is way off the mark. A splint is used for a fracture? How can you compare a splint to an insole? He has heel pain, you can have the strongest calf and shin muscles in the world but if you have a problem with your heel it will still bother you

Burkatron

yit wrote: »

Insoles are not a band aid though?

Well using a belt while dead lifting doesn't function to decrease back pain, it's to stabilise your intra abdominal pressure

Yit, the reason they're being described as a band aid or splint is that They support muscles that are dysfunctional & you become dependant on them, they're not a long term solution unless you have a structural fallen arch! Functional issues can be fixed with correct training & rehab

yit

Burkatron wrote: »

Yit, the reason they're being described as a band aid or splint is that They support muscles that are dysfunctional & you become dependant on them, they're not a long term solution unless you have a structural fallen arch! Functional issues can be fixed with correct training & rehab

Without taking it too literally, band aids and splints are not used to support muscles though. Insoles don't support dysfunctional muscles, the reason why I would prescribe someone insoles is based on a thorough gait analysis and foot posture assessment. Insoles are effective in correcting poor foot posture, thus preventing injury. You can't do a rehab program that retrains your foot how to walk perfectly because you are talking about what position the person's bones are in as well, believe me I've worked with a lot of elite athletes in the States who train endlessly and have unbelievable lower body strength but still have to wear insoles.

I'm not saying they are the be all and end all but they are very important.

Burkatron

[QUOTE=yit;76352513]Without taking it too literally, band aids and splints are not used to support muscles though.[/QUOTE]

Sorry, badly worded BUT they do support the area that muscles would usually support causing atrophy from inactivity & lead to other issues that need to be addressed with rehab.

Insoles don't support dysfunctional muscles, the reason why I would prescribe someone insoles is based on a thorough gait analysis and foot posture assessment. Insoles are effective in correcting poor foot posture, thus preventing injury.

So before insoles/ support shoes were invented everyone had poor foot posture & got injured?? The intrinsic muscles of the foot aren't suppose to do this job unaided??

You can't do a rehab program that retrains your foot how to walk perfectly because you are talking about what position the person's bones are in as well,

You cant?? So people that have over come issues by learning to run minimalist or barefoot that have strengthened their feet & overcome these problems don't exist?

believe me I've worked with a lot of elite athletes in the States who train endlessly and have unbelievable lower body strength but still have to wear insoles.

That's cool, (not checking credentials just nosey ) what do you do & where you working with any big names?

I'm not saying they are the be all and end all but they are very important.

They defo have their place but IMO they're way over prescribed & lead to other issues long term.

yit

No, that isn't correct. Just because you have poor foot posture doesn't automatically mean you will get injured, but it does increase your chances.

Overcome what issues? Heel pain or poor foot posture? Worked as part of the medical staff in a sports medicine clinic made for elite level athletes. I did but would never say who.

I think we will have to agree to disagree:D