Orthotics

marianne

Does anyone have experience with orthotics? Can you put them in regular shoes? Do you need to get a particular kind/style/brand of shoes? Do you need to go up a size? Any information would be appreciated. I am considering getting a pair (flat arches, asymmetrical pronation, etc.) and I want to know what my shoe options are. So far I've only used Superfeet inserts for running but they can only fit in my running shoes.
Thanks in advance!

17 years ago

General

8 replies

Latest reply was from marianne

nancy

Active Member

Hi Marianne-I got professionally made orthotics about about a yr. ago due to pain with plantar fasciitis. They helped quite a bit and now I don't need them all the time and am slowly going back to some shoes I used to wear (not all of them but at least a few). Initially the orthotics the doctor made did not allow me to wear my dress/mid heel shoes. I asked if there was another option and there is. The ones I ended up with are thinner in depth and I think are made more for dress shoes. I have stuck mainly to Clark Priovs (some I need the orthotics and some styles I don't), my tennis shoes when exercising (wear them them) and Sofft brand which are so padded I don't use any orthotics at all with them. Whether or not I go up a size really has depended on the style and brand off the shoe but I think a half size larger sometimes works best. Hope this info. helps, if you had any further questions I will try to give you at least my experience with them thus far.

17 years ago

Maya

Veteran

I tried orthotics a few years ago, and I was told they were the slimmest and hardest style available, but they still did not leave enough room in my foot. My shoes would just pop off. I guess it depends what shoes you wear, but ballet flats are out. They just aren't deep enough. Maybe there are thinner styles out now, but they didn't work for me and I never wear them. To be honest I don't even think they helped with my overpronation. My ankles still seemed to dip inwards and my foot just kind of sat on top of the orthotic rather than conform to it. Maybe I just had a bad pair, who knows.

17 years ago

marianne

Active Member

Thank you for your responses, Maya and Nancy! I was suspecting ballet flats won't be an option. Maya, what about converse? They aren't very deep, either.

Nancy, I do have a pair of Sofft shoes that I like a lot. In addition to cushioning their structure seems rigid enough to keep my arch in place.

I might get them and only wear them for running and extended walking.

17 years ago

shiny

Veteran

I wear orthotics in my running shoes, which works great.

Technically, I'm also supposed to wear a lift at all times in my left shoe only.... according to the PT, I have a leg length discrepancy, so the lift is intended to even things out. I did obediently wear the lift for about a year - and they didn't really fit in anything but a few pairs of clunky, fugly loafers. Definetly didn't work for sandals or high heels.

I got fed up with that, and did some research about leg length discrepancies. I found out that they can be acquired or congenital. I wasn't sure mine was truly congenital. I ended up taking up yoga, and after awhile of consistent daily practice and lots of downward dog's, the discrepancy completely disappeared! Not only that, but the bunion on my longer leg decreased in size.

If I don't keep up with the yoga, the discrepancy comes right back, along with the bunion, and other aches and pains in my back, etc. Another clue is that my one pant leg starts to drag on the ground. So I am now pretty certain my discrepancy is acquired and not congenital.

I don't know if that answered your question or not - your issue could be entirely different. I'll add that I am judicious with my use of high heels. I wear flats more often and even with flats I rotate frequently.

There are a lot of people on YLF with fussy feet and it seems most of us are able to find fashionable shoes that baby our feet and don't make matters worse.

Last thought: if you are a runner, your feet probably swell a lot, after running. I have discovered it helps to buy wider widths or go up a 1/2 size to accomodate for that.

17 years ago

shiny

Veteran

P.s.... asymetrical pronation (vs over or under pronation) really sounds to me like it may be a leg-length discrepancy issue. If you tend to run on the street and always in the gutter going the same direction, this is a *very* common problem and it is acquired over time, from running with one leg lower in the gutter. Try switching directions or running on trails or flat tracks instead. (Trails are considered ideal - helps encourage strength in minor stabilizing muscles).

Nancy - I love the Privos and the Soffts too! Privos give more arch support than the Soffts, at least the ones I have... they are quite cushioning but have zero arch support.

I also think that walking barefoot as much as possible is one of the best things one can do to strengthen feet and leg muscles. That's been my experience, anyway. Of course, if you are having major pain stepping out of bed in the morning, that needs fixing first!!

17 years ago

marianne

Active Member

Thanks for your input, Shiny! Yes, I've also been through all those issues with running and PT etc. I agree, yoga helps a ton - it also develops the muscles around the ankle and foot so the arch can be better supported. I was also wondering about leg length discrepancy because even my shoes wear off differently, but my last 2 PTs said it looks fine. I think the problem stems from my lower back and it got a lot worse after last pregnancy, so I hope it'll get better gradually... anyway, sorry for getting way off the fashion topic, but thank you very much for sharing your experience. I'll probably go ahead and get them and use them for exercising only, at least at first.

17 years ago

Becky

Veteran

Marianne, if your lower back is giving you problems, you may want to try Pilates as well. I've never done yoga, so there may be some overlap, but regular Pilates has helped my lower back like nothing else.

17 years ago

marianne

Active Member

Thanks Becky, Pilates is something I always wanted to try. I am still working on getting my exercise routine together.

17 years ago

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