Guys,
Anyone had the ITB pain cured/helped by getting orthotics? I have extremely flat feet, and been suffering for over a year with ITB pain. Rehab, rest, massage, ice, all not working. Podiatrist says (of course) orthotics would help. His custom ones cost $400, an insanely high price that I’m not going to pay. I’ve looked at the online custom places that do them for like $100-200, and still wondering if it will help.
Any ideas?
Meat
My ITB stopped hurting the day I got some orthotics. And they weren’t podiatrist orthotics either, they were bought from a specialist running shop with gait analysis facilities who moulded them while you waited. ‘Proper’ podiatrists hate outfits like that, sometimes for good reason. Now this could well have been because I had had ITB issues for 4 months or so and had been doing my stretches and they were finally beginning to work … but if so it was some coincidence.
The thing to bear in mind however is that ITB can be caused by any number of things. In my case it was lateral movement of the knee caused entirely by foot issues … hence not surprisingly the orthotic helped. Other people’s ITB is caused by leg length differences, hip imbalance, shoulder stiffness, etc etc. So, in conclusion, online orthotics or orthotics from non-podiatrists may help but it is worth spending the $ first at a suitably qualified podiatrist (ie one that treats RUNNERS … don’t laugh, plenty specialise in old people) to find out exactly what is causing it because if it isn’t - for example - flat feet that are causing it then it’s money down the drain. Someone I know traced his ITB back to a mis-healed collar bone that he broke when he was 13, believe it or not (it triggered a whole host of almost imperceptible imbalances that acted together to cause the ITB-destructive action). For him to get an orthotic would have been a waste of money whether it was a $50 version or a $400 one.
Whilst I got what I wanted from a non-professional orthotics, many many people won’t … but then I guess a fair few people don’t get what they want after paying $400 for professioanl orthotics.
I haven’t been much help, have I?
Note: I am no longer in the orthotics business, but I once was.
Go to the following site → http://home.earthlink.net/~pandmdunn/
Click the link Information for Runners Regarding Shoes, Biomechanics, Running Injuries, and Orthotics.
This is a presentation I put together to explain my view of orthotics, what they do, and how to buy them. I do wear orthotics, and I do believe they can help ITB. However, there are a lot of issues related to the type and fitting of the orthotic that will determine if they can be effective or not.
Last point (disclaimer) - I am not a doctor. The presentation contains the best information I could gather, but may be wrong. I hope it helps. I would like to know if you find the information useful.
Paul
I am in the same boat as you. I am very flat footed and could not run without pain (shin splints, knees, whatever) until I had used orthotics regularly. I think they do have an effect–as I’ve finished numerous races and a couple marathons since I began using them. I’m still no “runner” but I enjoy running a lot more. Having orthotics is not to say you won’t suffer from ITBS, which I still have, but the orthotics helped. One of those pat straps (neoprene strap that goes around your lower thigh) also helped my ITBS.
Edit: as for custom versus cheaper: I have custom ones and like them. I don’t know that cheaper off the shelf ones won’t work, but sometimes you get what you pay for. Try the cheaper ones first, but you may need to shell out down the road.