Recommended insoles for running shoes

[MrsJoel]

I have found whilst running my feet turn in so I am landing not flattly on the base of my feet. There are soo many to choose from. Any ideas? 👟👍🏻

[Irish-John Graduate]

If theres one subject I know inside out, it's problem feet.

In a nutshell, if you have a tiny problem now, wearing the wrong kind of insert will turn it into major one. If a qualified Podiatrist - and by that I mean someone who has an MD - thinks you need them, I cannot say enough good things about the ones Feathersprings make. They are not inexpensive - but they last forever and they work.

I hope it turns out you can run ok as you are, but do please be careful about those mass marketed ( and even some of the custom made firms) "quick fix" orthotics.

Wishing you many happy miles in your future.

[MrsJoel in reply to Irish-John]

Many thanks for your recommendation. I have only completed my second run and prevention is better than cure. So don’t want it to be an issue later on. I will look into those. Many thanks 👍🏻

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

I do mention these in the FAQ shoes post healthunlocked.com/couchto5... Like shoes, what works for one may be totally inappropriate for another.

I have no personal experience and frankly would think you are better getting them made up for you by a podiatrist, although many specialist running shops do make moulded insoles, alongside the ability to give you a gait analysis.

have you read the guide to the plan? healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Believe me Ian - when your toe bones are literally starting to head in the direction - hell bent on growing through your soles - you get a LOT of experience with Podiatrists, Orthopedic Surgeons etc. I had reached the point where I was fighting with my Insurance company to get them to cover amputation of both feet and replacement with anything that would let me walk at all - the pain was so great, and my feet so compromised, I could not stand in one spot at all and I could only lurch around for a grand total of about twenty minutes before the pain literally crippling me. I had gone the whole route of custom molded inserts etc - the last pair I got in 92 were so damn expensive I had to pay $500 dollars out of pocket - the total cost was almost eight grand. They were literally custom moulded on my bare feet, were so damn clunky I would have had to wear only combat boot like footware for the rest of my life...and they did not work.

I had injection and manipulations and all sorts of incisions and inserts and I was desperate. I saw that Canadian guy running marathons around that time on two steel LEGS and I could not even walk - hence my wish to get the amputations done.

I also kept seeing this ad in the Sunday newspapers for these harsh-looking steel orthotics that promised literal miracles to foot pain sufferers. I lost my temper one day with yet another ad for those things and ordered a pair, accompanied by an extremely angry letter promising them that I would most certainly be availing of the '100% money back if not satisfied' guarantee and what exactly I thought of their BS in giving false hope to foot pain sufferers in the fantastical wording of their ad and ludicrous promises.

I got the kit to imprint an outline of my foot on, sent it off with the money - there was an option to pay it off in twelve monthly installments but I wasn't messing with that because I was going to mail them back for my money probably the day I got them , tried them and found they were the usual rubbishy inserts...

Ian - I have never looked back. I wont say that I went out and walked miles and was able t stand for hours the first day - but after about ten minutes I felt the difference and it was promising. It took a few days before I was so used to them I didn't even 'feel' them in my shoes - and yes, can wear ANY type of footwear with them they are so slim - and a few months later I was wearing out my friends and family and workmates with my wild enthusiastic endorsement of them,

Not only was running absolutely 'impossible' for me - I actually was told by one of the top five Orthopedic surgeons in America that I would be in a wheelchair in my 40s- but the miracle of being able to stand in one spot! Man - that still blows me away because as excruciatingly painful as walking used to be - standing was hell on earth. My footbones never did make it to or through the soles of my feet - they are still screwed up but we get along. The only way they have affected me ever since is that even though the inserts are made of stainless steel, the way my weight compresses them snapped the first pair after six or seven years, the second pair about ten years later and this third pair is starting to show some very faint but discernible hairline cracks. When I broke the second pair I genuinely wanted to pay the full price for them - Featherspring here refused to accept any payment. There is going to be one heck of an argument from me for them to take it if or when this pair snaps - either they will take it or I will donate the amount in their name to some charity for crippled kids. That's how highly I appreciate the inserts and the company behind.

Ian - I know you know the respect I have for you so please don't read all the above as any sort of 'Go' at you. I just want to outline why I recommend Feathersprings - and I don't make ANYTHING from recommending them - and also I know that the wrong Orthotics/inserts at best do no good, and all too often do a hell of a lot of harm. Feathersprings work - as comprehensively as C25K work - and with the genuine guarantee of your money back if you are not satisfied it is no risk monetarily to at least try them. All I know is that the 'custom specialist molders and fitters' I was sent to had very firm 'no refunds' policies because you really cannot 'guarantee' relief and repair in these cases. Which is why, in the first place, Featherspings ads drove me up the wall in Righteous Rage!

Again Ian, absolutely no 'refutation' of your perspective - just an expansion on mine. I dread to think what would have transpired for me and my future had I not been lucky enough to lose my temper one sunny Sunday...

[Babs24 Graduate in reply to Irish-John]

Wow. It is absolutely true that you have everything if you have your health. And it's possibly only when something goes wrong that you appreciate this.

And when you find something that solves the problem, I know you hang onto it for dear life!

I will certainly be checking out Featherstones. x

[Bazza1234 Graduate]

We are not actually designed to land "flatly" on our feet - the normal process involves the foot landing slightly on the outside of the foot, which then rolls inward and the foot arch takes up the weight ( which is what arches do - as soon as you "support" an arch it ceases to be an arch!!) before pushing off from around the area of the big toe. . All the time that the foot is doing this the knee is working like a hinge and the leg muscles act like springs on either side of the knee. If you have only done 2 runs? and have not experienced any pain nor have misshapen feet, I think you are being premature in looking for shoe inserts.

[Dt_RiyazKhan_Hyd]

Hi MrsJoel - Welcome to the world of Running.

First things first - Relax! Smile! Don't fill your mind with worries.

Human body is much stronger and flexible than we can imagine.

I have been running for over four decades now including Half and Full Marathons.

I have run in all types of shoes Nike, Reebok, Adidas, Bata and also a lot of Military Shoes.

1. There is no need to plant your feet Flat on the track.

You feet need to lightly touch the heel and gently roll over. It comes naturally, you don't have to force anything.

2. There is no need to hit your heel. This too is a problem because it is unnatural.

3. You don't have to take long steps. Just follow your natural style.

Most important is shoes should be running shoes, should feel comfortable. In case of any thing creating a problem it will be known in first few weeks, Its better not to persist with any shoes that causes discomfort.

Every persons foot size and shape is different. No one shoe will fit all. No shoe saleman knows your foot better than you. No scientist knows your foot better than you.

You be the best judge of the shoe that fits you and aids you in your running.

It will come to you slowly, not to worry, keep smiling, and keep running!

[MrsJoel]

Thanks guys for all your advice and help I really appreciate it. Hope you all have a nice day 🙂

[misswobble Graduate]

That was a good read. Thanks peeps. You learn something new everyday 👍

[kaysmith Graduate]

Hi , I had my gait measured at a local sports store and was told I would benefit from insoles which I bought and introduced gradually . Every time I wore them , even for a short time, I got really bad pain to one side underneath my knee . I persevered for a while but in the end I ditched the insoles and the pain went . I run without insoles now and have no pain . I guess I'll always have run /walked this way .. it might not be perfect according to a computer but it is for my body 😁 Don't try and fix something that isn't broken is my motto now or go to someone who specialises in these things . Good luck with the running . I've only been running for 5 months and I'm totally addicted to it , it's the best thing I've ever done 😁🏃‍♀️

[Scouser67 Graduate]

Perhaps you should have a gait analysis before going for insoles. I had my gait analysed this afternoon. It actually looks at the way you run. I run quite heavily on the base of my foot and my right leg tends to lean outwards. I was advised as to what support I should be using and the type of running shoe. I