FootProducts.Net said:
Alot of runners like having custom orthotics.. I curious to know why
they can be bad for running.. I don't run myself (I like the cross
training machine!), but have found I can stand alot longer without arch
pain when wearing orthotics.
Here's my opinion (not a doctor and don't play one on tv). Sometimes
people's feet and ankles may not be used to the stresses of running and
have problems. It may be a simple issue of strengthening the feet and
ankle muscles, tendons, and ligaments to adapt. An orthotic fitted
without a true diagnosis may be like a crutch - that the runner now
needs to wear forever, possibly because range of motion is reduced.
I do wear custom orthotics all the time, *BUT* I often wonder if my foot
/ ankle weaknesses had been diagnosed properly initially, instead of
bandaid treatment of orthotics, if I'd be wearing them today - or
wearing this kind.
I'm a late overpronator (high arch) so need torsional control, and the
3/4 length orthotics don't extend that far - AT recurred about 3 yr
after original issues when these were fitted. A PT that I went to the
2nd time round took the time to watch me walk and see what my problems
were - functional and some structural. At one time he was going to
prescribe a full-length orthotic, but started with exercises since a lot
of my problem was function. He changed my shoes from a motion control to
a stability shoe and had me do lots of exercises to strengthen feet and
ankles and fix some muscle imbalances.
There may still be some underlying issues that I need to work on, but
going to a PT who understands running was one of the best investments I
made. He helped me understand my weaknesses instead of giving me a
crutch to use the rest of my life. I have tried an occasional time
without orthotics, but I think they're functioning as heel lifts and
arch supports that I'm used to and am hesitant to change at this point.
I do barefoot drills in my lawn during the summer with no problems, but
flat floors aren't comfortable. My feet don't seem comfortable in shoes
without orthotics at this point.
FWIW, when I'd explored some of these do-it-yourself molds at places
like REI, the shoe sales person took a look at my existing orthotics and
said he didn't think these do-it-yourself molds would work for the
corrections he seemed to see in my existing orthotics.
Orthotics may work fine for structural issues, where improving function
may not be done through exercises.
Just my opinion.
Note: I don't usually respond to posters advertising their own wares,
esp. when the web page doesn't have readily obvious credentials, but
there's several beginners discussions where this may be a useful
question and maybe helpful answer.
Dot
--
"Success is different things to different people"
-Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope
