What Are Orthotics?
Orthotics (also known as orthotic insoles, shoe inserts, or orthoses) are devices placed inside the shoes with the purpose of restoring our natural foot function. This is necessary when the natural biomechanical balance of our lower body has been disrupted by over-pronation. Many common complaints such as heel pain, knee pain and lower back pain are caused by poor foot biomechanics. Biomechanics is the science that studies the body's movements during walking, running and sports. The most common form of bad foot biomechanics is over-pronation, which is the dropping of the arches and rolling inwards of the feet and ankles, and affects an estimated 70% of the population. Orthotic insoles correct over-pronation and realign the foot and ankle bones to their neutral position, restoring natural foot function. In turn, this will help alleviate problems not only in the feet, but also in other parts of the body, such as the knees, hips, and lower back.
Why Do We Need Orthotics?
It is estimated that 70% of the population suffer from a condition called over-pronation due to flat feet or fallen arches. This condition presents itself in varying degrees of severity, with some people over-pronating
more than others.
The fact that so many of us suffer from over-pronation due to fallen arches can be contributed to the hard, flat surfaces we walk on daily. Other factors that play a role include age, weak ankles, and excess body weight . As a result, over-pronation is much more prevalent in people in their fifties and older, and also in overweight persons.
Over-pronation doesn't pose a serious problem in many cases, especially for younger people. However, abnormal foot function caused by over-pronation can lead to serious foot problems like heel pain, heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia - even knee pain and lower back pain in some instances.
Orthotics correct the problem of over-pronation, and can help reduce or eliminate many common aches and pains. Orthotics are an effective and inexpensive solution to the over-pronation problem. Buying a pair of orthotics can be a worthwhile investment in your health, since they can prevent many serious lower body problems.
How Are Orthotics Different From Regular Shoe Insoles?
There’s a significant difference between regular insoles and orthotics. Regular insoles are purely designed to provide a cushioning effect and shock absorption. They may feel comfortable at first, however they do not address any biomechanical problems, i.e. they are not designed to correct over-pronation. On the other hand, orthotics are a functional device, designed to correct and optimize our foot function. Some insoles also feature an arch support, however they tend to be mostly made of soft materials. As a result, the support they provide is often too weak to have any effect.
How do orthotics exactly work? First of all, orthotics do a lot more than support the arches. Orthotics realign the feet and ankles, and restore deficient foot function. In addition, orthotics enable a more even weight distribution, taking pressure off sore spots (e.g. the heels, the ball of the foot, corns in between toes, and bunions). They also provide some degree of shock absorption, but this is not their main purpose. The main purpose of an orthotic insole is to improve foot function, in many cases reducing pain and preventing serious problems and injuries in the future.
"Your Catwalk orthotics for high heels and sandals are just fabulous. They are so comfortable and so flexible when changing form one pair of shoes to another. Fantastic relief for the pain in the balls of my foot. Thank you! "
"I want to extend to you my heartfelt thanks for eliminating the pain I was having in my left heel. I had been to my physician, he recommended cortisone injections which I didn't like the idea much of. A family member in Perth told me about your inserts. Your product has done the job. Thank you so much."
"Just wanted to let you know that I'm so excited about my new orthotics from Footminders. I have used "custom" orthotics for several years and have paid $400-$600 per pair for them. They work great for about a year and then I have to order new ones. The ones I just received from your company are at least as good as those and so much less expensive. I received my first order last week and just ordered 3 more pairs to have in my sandals this summer. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!"
"I ordered your product a year ago for a pair of slippers, and I couldn't believe that I no longer had heel pain. I recently stopped wearing them for a few months, and the heel pain returned, so I'm ordering more for my shoes. I have purchased many shoe inserts and tried them all; these really are different. Amazing product, thanks again!
"I am an avid tennis player and have suffered from heel pain in my right foot for more than 4 months. I used gel heel pads, ice, pain killers etc but nothing proved really effective until I heard about your product from a friend. The orthotics and stretching exercises seem to work very well for me and the pain has almost disappeared! Now I play tennis again and walk for extended periods without discomfort. Congratulations on a great product!"
"After 3 months of heel pain, my GP told me about your product, so I bought a pair of your Comfort insoles. They have only been in my shoes for 2 days now and the difference is truly amazing! The pain in my left foot is nearly gone and I can walk normally again. What a relief, thank you so much for this wonderful product!
"I have been looking for a solution and relief of my Plantar Fasciitis for weeks, until I found you on Google. I've been wearing them for a week now and it feels like I'm gliding, instead of walking. Just unbelievable, and my heels feel normal again. I can't thank you enough and will tell all my friends and family about your products."
"I recently developed plantar fasciitis in both my feet and after finding you on Google, I purchased your orthopedic inserts. The pain in my heels was so severe I had to give up my daily morning walk. After only 2 days of using your inserts, my foot pain has improved tremendously. I am so impressed because I really didn’t have very high expectations and felt it might be a gamble to even try them. Thank you so much!!! What a difference your product has made in my life!!"
"When I initially put your inserts into my shoes, they felt a bit strange, especially in my arches. After a few days, now that my feet are used to these orthotics, the cradling comfort is just fantastic! In fact, when I don't have them in my shoes, it feels like there's something missing. After suffering daily from aching feet your insoles are a godsend. I would definitely recommend this product to all of my friends."
I am a chef and on my feet most of the day (and night). One of our waiters told me about your website, so I ordered them on-line which I normally never do, buying on in the internet. The tired, aching feeling in my feet and legs is nearly gone. I cannot believe it, I wish someone had told me earlier...
