Most of us take our shoes out of the closet and put them on, without a second thought. For a large percentage of us, that works. Other though, need more that their insoles offers. No matter what shoes they wear, their feet hurt. They constantly have problems with blisters, arch pain, forefoot pain, and more. What can they, and you, do? Shoes and boots come with a removable insole. These insoles are getting better—many are more supportive than those of a few years ago. An easy way to tell is to remove the insole and see how easily it bends. If it bends like cardboard, toss it out and invest in a good replacement.
Replacement insoles, like those made by Spenco, Sof Sole, ShockDoctor (shown here), ShockBlocker, and Superfeet, are commonly found at your local running and outdoors store. For most of us, these will work wonders and help our feet work effectively.
Some people need more then the typical insole offers. They need an orthotic. Foot, knee and shin pain can be eased by orthotics. A good orthotic will distribute weight evenly, off weight certain parts of the foot, or re-align the foot. Here is where a podiatrist or certified pedorthists can help. They will listen to your history, make a mold of your feet, watch you walk and/or run, and make a custom orthotic.
Next time we will look at different types of orthotics and how to make wise choices when buying them.