Gel Insoles
Do I Need Spenco Arch Supports or Insoles
Our feet carry the entire weight of our bodies day in and day out. It is easy to understand how these 26 small bones won’t always stay in alignment as they absorb the impact of your body during daily and athletic activities. When the bones in your feet fall out of alignment your ankles, knees, hips, and back can all suffer from what seems to be that temporary pain during standing, walking, or running. Spenco Arch Supports may be just what you need to keep your foot arch supported and in alignment, helping to position your feet to carry the load.
Regardless of whether you already experience some amount of pain or just slight fatigue after your daily activity, Spenco Arch Supports and Insoles supply your feet with the extra support and cushioning so that your feet can perform naturally and comfortably. And when your feet are comfortable and energize, this takes the pressure off your ankles, knees, hips, and back.
Getting started with finding the right Arch Support for you:
Let us start by clearing up some common misunderstandings about insoles and arch supports:
High or low arches don’t mean that your foot is not aligned; rather it is how the foot functions during its natural stride in motion, a.k.a. its running gait, which determines the support you’ll need.
Traditionally, insoles or orthotics were hard plastic inserts placed in the shoe to cup the heel and support the arch but because they were not flexible they did not relieve the pressure causing pain. NOW, Spenco insoles work to provide stability and cushion, promoting correct foot alignment, pressure relief, and flexibility.
Finally, if you experience light pain or fatigue, or maybe you just need extra support for all day foot activity, try neutral insoles like the Spenco RX Cushioning line or the Gel Line for great shock absorption and soft support!
Determining your running gait to find the right Insoles and Arch support:
Quick reminder: Your running gait comes from the set of movements and tensions that your foot endures while in motion in order to support, cushion, and balance your body. The phases of running gate include 1) initial contact and stability phase, 2) full contact with the ground and launching phase, and finally 3) no contact or the ‘relief’ phase.
To understand and verify your running gait, look at a pair of used shoes. Examine the bottom of your shoes and you should notice one of the following three markings:
- If the shoes are slightly or significantly worn on the insides (near at the top and bottom of the arches) of the soles, then you exhibit an over-pronation running gait. This is the most common foot problem, especially for women. Most arch support insoles/ orthotics will relieve this problem. Depending on the angle of wear and your specific activities, you can determine what Insole is right for you. (For more on orthotics and women’s special needs scroll down)
- If the shoes appear to be neutral and do not show wear on the outside or inside, then you exhibit a pronation-neutral running gait. This is the least problematic, a soft arch cushion or an energizing gel insole is suggested to promote flexibility and shock absorption.
- If the shoes are slightly or significantly worn on the outside of the soles, then you exhibit an under-pronation (supination) running gait. This means that your ankle is absorbing a lot of the pressure. You want a soft neutral insole or an orthotic that will help to position your foot correctly. More on Orthotics
Orthotic insoles do more than support your foot; they work to correct and stabilize the position of your running gait for maximum results and comfort. Spenco orthotic insoles are moldable for firm customized support. They work to prevent and correct deformities in your feet that have kept you from normal, comfortable movement.
Orthotics can help with foot problems more than the average insole because orthotic supports exert gentle consistent pressure to bring your foot muscles and joints back into proper alignment, relieving the pressure your feet, ankles, knees, and back have been implementing in reaction to your misalignment.
Special Information for Women:
Women have many of the same considerations as men when it comes to selecting an insole, but they also have different needs that might not be apparent that must be noted:
- Wider hips. A woman has relatively wider hips, meaning over-pronation is more common in women than men due to a quadriceps angle of 18 degrees rather than 13. Spenco took this into serious consideration, creating the Q-factor line just for women to aid this problem.
- Bone mass. While running and other high impact aerobics promotes denser bones, women — especially older women — are prone to osteoporosis. For this reason, Spenco created the women’s Q-factor Cushioning insole to reduce the shock transmitted to the ankles and legs. Gel and soft insole from the Spenco RX line are also recommended.
More on Pronation:
What is Pronation?
Pronation is the foot in motion. During forward movement, not only is the foot moving from heel to toe, but it is also rolling from the outer edge to the inner edge. Everyone pronates, it is the healthy, natural way for the foot to absorb and displace the shock of impact, while preparing it to correctly push forward. What is over-pronation?
An over-pronator lands in an already pronated position and continues to roll inward as they go from heel strike to toe off. This excessive inward motion is best countered with firm inside arch support. If over pronation goes uncorrected the arch will flatten, collapse, and the soft tissues will stretch, causing the joint surfaces to function at uncomfortable and unhealthy angles. Eventually, joints that should be stable become very loose and flexible. Here, we see that catching the problem really can prevent further damage and pain
What is under-pronation?
An under-pronator lands in a supinated position and experiences very little pronation, meaning that from impact to toe-off their foot does not roll inward as much as the normal foot should. This lack of inward motion causes stress on the ankles and more shock impact on the ankles, knees, hips, and back. Extra cushioning softens impact and promotes an inward roll.
About the Author
For more information about Spenco Arch Supports, visit http://www.spenco-arch-supports.com/.
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