Fountainhead said:I had orthotics made back in the mid 80's, when I was a young buck. They are "Sporthotics", from
the Langer Group. They are the kind that extend from the heel throught the arch, and stop just
short of the ball of the foot. I had them made at the time as I suffered chronic posterior shin
splints due to excessive pronation.
Fast forward to today, and I've taken up running once again. Even though I'm just starting out,
I'm already noticing some mild soreness in that area...not anything serious yet, but it certainly
feels very familiar.
Do you know what is causing it? In most cases, orthotics treat symptoms, not the cause, but there
are exceptions. Sometimes exercises *may* be able to correct some biomechanical issues and might be
better in long term - but not always.
Quoted message said:I'm already wearing a motion control shoe. I'm staring at the old orthotics. Is there any reason
NOT to try these again after so much time? They still feel "right" on my feet.
I'm just guessing, not a doctor, etc., but you might go ahead and try them. When you had them
initially, were these just worn when you ran or all the time? I'd use that as a guideline. FWIW, I
used orthotics in motion control shoes for several years, then PT switched me to stability shoe
since it controlled pronation where I needed it (motion control shoe was rigid where I didn't need
it, and little support where I needed
it).
And I don't recall whether one
Quoted message said:uses the orthotic in addition to the shoes normal insole, or whether on replaces the shoe's
insole. It seems to me that replacing the insole causes you to lose forefoot cusioning.
Your situation may differ, but I use my 3/4 length (same length as yours) on top the standard insole
that came with the shoe to have the forefoot cushioning. Other people may replace the standard
insole with a different one, then use their orthotic. A lot depends on the type insole that came
with the shoe and what's under there. Sometimes the height of the orthotic over an insole makes the
shoe unstable in the heel. You'll have to see what works for you.
Also, have there been any
Quoted message said:advances in orthotics over the years, or are they still pretty much like my old Sporthotics?
Thanks for any advice.
I'm guessing there's been many advances in orthotics over the years - like everything else -
including controversy about best way to fit them
- dynamic, weighted static mold, unweighted static mold, etc - not to mention off the shelf
orthotics and a whole slew of kinds in between custom and off the shelf.
Dot
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"Success is different things to different people" -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope