orthotics - are they worth it?

[Markus]
<After my ankle injury (in recovery now) I'm wondering if I should splurge
for some custom orthotics.

Do they help in injury prevention? What is your experience with them? Worth
the somewhat significant cost?>

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Quoted message said:

...and give Leonardo
Back to me!
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I buried him (parts that I didn't eat) under the tulips.

I run in custom orthotics and can't imagine running without them. They
were originally recommended when I came down with a bad case of
tendinitis in my ankle. My orthopedist took one look at my very high
arches and rattled off a couple other injuries he said I'd be prone to.
Coincidentally, I'd already had and dealt with the injuries he mentioned.

Since then, the only significant problem I've had has been the
aggravation of a very old knee injury that dates to my early teen years
(and was re-injured in a skiing crash last winter).

Orthotics aren't a cure all. I still get stupid occasionally and run
further or faster than I'm really trained up for, leaving this or that a
little sore. But, mostly, I run a lot better with a lot fewer incidents
of injury than before I got them.

Marcus Holmes <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

After my ankle injury (in recovery now) I'm wondering if I should
splurge for some custom orthotics.

Do they help in injury prevention? What is your experience with them?
Worth the somewhat significant cost?

Marcus

Orthotics are custom made to fit your feet. An intelligent podiatrist,
chiropractor or orthopedist will analyze your structure and make
corrections.

I have both orthodics made by podiatrists that are hard, and they are fine.

And I also have ones made by a genius chiropractor in NY that are soft
and flexible. They are more comfortable and reduce shock.

There is a big difference. They are made for my feet, my gait and well
worth it.

Newsdude said:

I run in custom orthotics and can't imagine running without them. They
were originally recommended when I came down with a bad case of
tendinitis in my ankle. My orthopedist took one look at my very high
arches and rattled off a couple other injuries he said I'd be prone to.
Coincidentally, I'd already had and dealt with the injuries he mentioned.

Since then, the only significant problem I've had has been the
aggravation of a very old knee injury that dates to my early teen years
(and was re-injured in a skiing crash last winter).

Orthotics aren't a cure all. I still get stupid occasionally and run
further or faster than I'm really trained up for, leaving this or that a
little sore. But, mostly, I run a lot better with a lot fewer incidents
of injury than before I got them.

Marcus Holmes <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

After my ankle injury (in recovery now) I'm wondering if I should
splurge for some custom orthotics.

Do they help in injury prevention? What is your experience with them?
Worth the somewhat significant cost?

Marcus

Quoted message said:

Orthotics are custom made to fit your feet. An intelligent podiatrist,
chiropractor or orthopedist will analyze your structure and make
corrections.

I have both orthodics made by podiatrists that are hard, and they are fine.

And I also have ones made by a genius chiropractor in NY that are soft
and flexible. They are more comfortable and reduce shock.

There is a big difference. They are made for my feet, my gait and well
worth it.

Newsdude said:

I run in custom orthotics and can't imagine running without them. They
were originally recommended when I came down with a bad case of
tendinitis in my ankle. My orthopedist took one look at my very high
arches and rattled off a couple other injuries he said I'd be prone to.
Coincidentally, I'd already had and dealt with the injuries he mentioned.

Since then, the only significant problem I've had has been the
aggravation of a very old knee injury that dates to my early teen years
(and was re-injured in a skiing crash last winter).

Orthotics aren't a cure all. I still get stupid occasionally and run
further or faster than I'm really trained up for, leaving this or that a
little sore. But, mostly, I run a lot better with a lot fewer incidents
of injury than before I got them.

Marcus Holmes <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

After my ankle injury (in recovery now) I'm wondering if I should
splurge for some custom orthotics.

Do they help in injury prevention? What is your experience with them?
Worth the somewhat significant cost?

Marcus

As long as "you believe", that's all that counts.

Quoted message said:

I run in custom orthotics and can't imagine running without them.

Of course not, because you've been conned. A recent study found more than 60%
of the people wearing orthotics do not need them.

[email hidden] (FabulustRunner) wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I run in custom orthotics and can't imagine running without them.

Of course not, because you've been conned. A recent study found more
than 60% of the people wearing orthotics do not need them.

You have a cite for said study?

I don't really give a damn about your 'recent study.'

The guy asked about other runners' experience with orthotics. He had the
exact same injury I suffered through (after a series of other minor
injuries). Since purchasing my orthotics, I haven't had a significant issue
that's stopped my running (outside of a non-running accident).

The orthotics made a huge difference for me. Sure, my results are
anectdotal, not scientific, and others' experience may vary.

By the way, a recent study found that 80 percent of the people who quote
recent studies make them up 60 percent of the time <--- Like that one I
just made up.

[email hidden] (FabulustRunner) wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I run in custom orthotics and can't imagine running without them.

Of course not, because you've been conned. A recent study found more
than 60% of the people wearing orthotics do not need them.

Marcus Holmes <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

After my ankle injury (in recovery now) I'm wondering if I should
splurge for some custom orthotics.

Do they help in injury prevention? What is your experience with them?
Worth the somewhat significant cost?

Marcus

I've never heard of them being prescribed for injury prevention - but
that doesn't mean it's not possible or desirable.

Anyway, I think most people get them in response to an injury. There are
so many different running-induced injuries possible, you wait until you
get one of them, and then your doc can help you decide if orthotics will
help you heal and/or prevent further injury.

I got some 4 yrs ago to deal with a bad ongoing problem with PF. They've
been wonderful, and I can't imagine running without them now. But I
didn't need them for the first 5 years that I ran - some combination of
aging, increased mileage, and increased weight may have developed the PF.

I also got custom ones made. They were expensive ($450 CDN), but have
lasted. At the time, I had insurance that paid for half of the cost.
I've had them recovered twice, for about $40 each time. It just makes
sense to me that you want ones custom made to fit your individual feet,
but I also tried on a pair at a pre-race expo (Burlington Vt.?) that felt
fantastic, and cost about $100US. So you might get lucky and find some
that work for a lower cost. I also move mine around between whatever
dress shoes I'm wearing during the work day, and into my runners for
every run. To simplify things a bit, I bought some "Superfeet" footbeds
that I permanently keep in my golf shoes and my casual shoes - they're
only about $20 a pair, and seem to last forever.

dh

Quoted message said:

You have a cite for said study?

Not online, I read it somewhere.

Quoted message said:

I don't really give a damn about your 'recent study.'

Then why have you rngaged me in this discussion? It's obvious you are a (_!_)

Marcus,
I really wonder how much science is behind them. I had
them prescribed twice for two different injuries. The
2nd pair had what felt like there was no arch at all.
When I brought them back the Dr explained that they take
the foot mold and back the arch off some amount from that.
He further said it was an "art" and that they must have
backed it off too much and he could send them back if I
wanted. When he said "if I wanted" I lost quite a bit
of confidence in him and the process.

I later developed a stress fracture of the tibia just above
the ankle. While diagnosing this the doctor (different Dr)
mentioned that I had very weak ankles.

To make a long story short I decided to try going without
orthotics while comming back. I tried different shoes
and found the Addias Supernova Control shoes work great
for me. I am running more miles than ever, about 35mi per
week and have had no major problems without the orthotics.

Steve W.

Marcus Holmes <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

After my ankle injury (in recovery now) I'm wondering if I should splurge
for some custom orthotics.

Do they help in injury prevention? What is your experience with them? Worth
the somewhat significant cost?

Marcus

Quoted message said:

the doctor (different Dr)
mentioned that I had very weak ankles.

To make a long story short I decided to try going without
orthotics while comming back. I tried different shoes
and found the Addias Supernova Control shoes work great
for me. I am running more miles than ever, about 35mi per
week and have had no major problems without the orthotics.

Steve W.

Steve,
Your story is similar to mine. I tossed the orthos and never looked back. Some
injurys will never be explained or prevented. I took up ankle strengthing
exercises, and never had another problem.

Orthotics are worth it, but expensive.

I spent $400 for mine about 3 years ago. Wouldn't run a single mile without
them....and yes, they are remarkable.

I'm actually considering getting another pair.

- S

"Marcus Holmes" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

After my ankle injury (in recovery now) I'm wondering if I should splurge
for some custom orthotics.

Do they help in injury prevention? What is your experience with them?

Worth

Quoted message said:

the somewhat significant cost?

Marcus

"Marcus Holmes" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Do they help in injury prevention? What is your experience with them?
Worth the somewhat significant cost?

In my case I have a kind of foot deformity which made me *very* injury prone
and achy. The first set I got eliminated achy knees.

The second, stronger set about 18 months later took 7 minutes off my
marathon time. I could train longer and harder without injury, and my
stride was more efficient. (went from 2:44 to 2:37)

I don't know if they do much if you don't have a pretty obvious
foot-alignment problem, though. But in my case, they made a very welcome
difference.

-- Dan

FabulustRunner said:

Quoted message said:

Orthotics are custom made to fit your feet. An intelligent podiatrist,
chiropractor or orthopedist will analyze your structure and make
corrections.

I have both orthodics made by podiatrists that are hard, and they are fine.

And I also have ones made by a genius chiropractor in NY that are soft
and flexible. They are more comfortable and reduce shock.

There is a big difference. They are made for my feet, my gait and well
worth it.

Newsdude said:

I run in custom orthotics and can't imagine running without them. They
were originally recommended when I came down with a bad case of
tendinitis in my ankle. My orthopedist took one look at my very high
arches and rattled off a couple other injuries he said I'd be prone to.
Coincidentally, I'd already had and dealt with the injuries he mentioned.

Since then, the only significant problem I've had has been the
aggravation of a very old knee injury that dates to my early teen years
(and was re-injured in a skiing crash last winter).

Orthotics aren't a cure all. I still get stupid occasionally and run
further or faster than I'm really trained up for, leaving this or that a
little sore. But, mostly, I run a lot better with a lot fewer incidents
of injury than before I got them.

Marcus Holmes <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

>After my ankle injury (in recovery now) I'm wondering if I should
>splurge for some custom orthotics.
>
>Do they help in injury prevention? What is your experience with them?
>Worth the somewhat significant cost?
>
>
>Marcus

As long as "you believe", that's all that counts.

No, they were originally prescribed when I had a stress fracture of my
feet. They also do an amazing thing, they make shoes actually fit my
strangely shapped feet.

<< They also do an amazing thing, they make shoes actually fit my
strangely shapped feet.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Webbed,
Or clawed?
Crustacean, perhaps?

_______
Blog, or dog? Who knows. But if you see my lost pup, please ping me!
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HREF="http://journals.aol.com/virginiaz/DreamingofLeonardo">http://journal
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