Our customers often come to us due to foot pain and/or conditions for their parents, children, and/or themselves and are seeking a solution to the foot pain. Some have never tried shoe insoles or orthotic arch supports and are not quite sure what they are looking for.
Often we try to identify what a doctor (or podiatrist) may have recommended or what it is the customer is seeking. The common division is: are you looking for a cushioned insole, an orthotic arch support, or some hybrid in-between?
Most have already read our “Insoles Guide” that gives some rough generalizations and idea’s as to which type of shoe insoles are available.
The premise behind cushioned insoles and orthotic arch supports operates on two different principals.
The cushion insoles provide shock absorption and pain relief from the shock and impact while an orthotic arch support uses the natural cushioning and structure of one’s foot for properly forming your foot to a proper neutral foot position to absorb the shock and weight evenly across the entire structure of the foot.
If your seeking more, re-read the different definitions of the insole types at our Insoles Guide. Check out our Foot Care & Insoles Blog, you will see specific articles tied to foot pain conditions, customer testimonials, or even reviews on individual shoe insoles. We also have foot-care specialists to assist over the phone or via email.
One of our common complaints is that orthotic arch supports are often rigid and cause some pain causing a customer to immediately reject the orthotic after 2 minutes of use. Our most common statement is that one needs to wear them for a few days or even weeks to allow time for the foot muscles and tendons to stretch and adjust to a new position that they are not accustomed too. After-all, we’re looking to put our foot in the proper position right?
Give your foot some time to adjust —it does not often happen instantly overnight. Personally, it took my feet about 3 months before I could truly feel the real effects of wearing orthotic arch supports. Today, my feet and legs do not have the fatigue that I used to have at the end of the day nor the forefoot pain I used to experience —as I had a habit of standing with all my weight on the balls of my feet. My feet feel stronger and pain-free today while directly (or indirectly) my back and entire body (if not mind) feel better too.
Some basic keys to discover are your foot pain conditions, foot-arch type (flat, low, high arch), and the activities you participate in —if not just everyday life. Of course, seeking a medical opinion would be the best course of action. While some choose to have a $200-300 custom orthotic or a cheap drugstore shoe insoles, those insoles may not always be the answer.
Let us know if we can help you find the best insole for your feet as we represent the Best Diversified Selection of Insoles found anywhere in the World-only at TheInsoleStore.com