Do I Need Insoles? – 4 Common Questions Answered
Are you suffering with knee, neck and shoulder or back pain which keeps coming back without any apparent cause?
The problem, surprisingly, might be caused by your feet!
Fortunately, there is a natural, medication-free pain relief solution which could be perfect for you – orthotics, or more commonly known as insoles.
You might have seen insoles online, in your local supermarket, or at a shoe retailer, and in this blog article we will cover some common questions that we get asked about them such as:
- What are insoles?
- Who needs insoles?
- What type of insoles are available?
- Do I need insoles?
What Are Insoles?
Jimmy, one of our physio team explains that: “Insoles are used for a variety of reasons, but primarily, they are a device designed to align the foot and ankle into the most anatomically efficient position.
They simply fit into your shoes and allow for more normalised weight distribution throughout your body, significantly reducing your pain and discomfort and helping to prevent injuries.
If your feet are currently in an incorrect position this can cause muscle imbalances and overuse of certain muscles or tissues – commonly the knee, hips or lower back muscles, which then take the responsibility of helping to properly align your body.
A big benefit of using insoles is that they are very easy to use, and they can be an extremely powerful tool for natural pain relief and prevention of future problems.”
Who Needs Insoles?
There are lots of people who have visited our clinic and benefitted from the insoles we offer, such as people with:
- Plantar Fasciitis or other foot conditions
- Flat feet
- High foot arches
- Arthritis
- Previous injuries to their lower legs
- Jobs that involve lots of walking or standing
- Ankle, knee, hip, back or neck pain (these could all be caused by foot imbalances)
What Types Of Insoles Are Available?
Insoles can be purchased “off the shelf” from lots of places – your supermarket, shoe retailer or online, and these will be made in a handful of sizes. We at Alpha Physiotherapy also provide off the shelf insoles, and for some people they are enough to help with a mild issue.
The problem with off the shelf insoles, however, is that they are generic and not customised to your specific foot structure and therefore they are less likely to provide the correct support you need to fix your imbalances, and ease muscle pain.
The alternative is to get custom made orthotics/insoles which is what we can provide for you at Alpha Physiotherapy.
These insoles are 100% custom made and built for your feet which ensures that your foot position and weight distribution is correct, and in turn, the muscles or structures which are currently causing you pain are in less demand.
And now for the answer to the big question…
“Do I Need Insoles?”
Do you answer yes to any of these questions?
- Do you have pain in your foot, knee, hip or lower back?
- Does it worsen when you are standing, walking, running or using your legs in any way?
- Do you have flat feet or high arches?
- Do you wear your shoes down more on one side than the other?
- Have you had insoles in the past and not got on well with them?
- Have your current insoles seen better days?!
Then the chances are you might benefit from insoles!
It is also very likely that each foot will be different and require different support. That is why custom-made insoles are the best solution, as opposed to generic, off the shelf insoles.
Ultimately, the best way that we can help you determine if your foot, knee, hip or back pain is caused by issues with your feet is to visit our clinic. To arrange a visit, you can call one of our friendly team on 01473 561060.
Other Natural, Medication-Free Pain Relief Solutions
Alternatively, if you aren’t quite sure whether insoles are right for you, and you would like to find out more information, we offer a limited number of FREE taster consultations where you can speak to a member of the team on a 1-1 basis, and learn:
- What is the underlying cause of your aches and pains?
- Roughly, how long will it take to fix my problem?
- What to do to help – which doesn’t include painkillers, resting or surgery etc.
- What other, natural, medication free methods are there to speed up recovery alongside treatment?
To arrange a FREE taster consultation, click the link below:
