Orthotics dilemma

Triathlon Forum
1

Riddle me this…

After putting 4 years on my last pair of orthotics I just got a local podiatrist connected with the local running shop to build me a new set–he came highly recommended by everyone in town, including people that seem to have had serious feet issues + can still smoke me.

My history–I had gotten orthotics over 10 years ago for plantar fascitis and they quickly caused me develop ITBS, and it over the years it took much physical therapy, leg exercises, etc to get me through various marathons, half ironmen, and shorter races.

While I haven’t been training hard since Wildflower last year (and even a little before it… whoops!) I’ve been relatively pain free, but I had also only bought one new set of shoes in the last 4 years, and that was running shoes after auditioning through 12+ possibilities (yes, I bought 7 pairs of the one that worked). Any other shoes I’ve tried on–running, boots, hiking, etc save a pair of chacos cause me instant need pain.

So this summer I plan to hike and need hiking boots. And since my orthotics had 4 yrs on 'em, I thought I should get new ones. So now back to the present, where I started.

These new orthotics, even with some extra work he did, hurt, well, at least irritate my knees. After his extra mods still did not stop my pain, his recommendation/belief is that my old orthotics were part of my bad, wrong muscle recruitment style and that to make my peace with the new orthotics I needed to wear only the new ones, without returning to the old, painfree ones “for a break”, and wear the new ones for at least 2 weeks, and ideally the new knee pain they bring me will go away.

So (finally) my question–is that sound advice? He made a convincing argument with the fact that my old orthotics seem to contribute to my supination, but I can walk/run in them with no pain, and the new ones not… help! need to buy my boots soon! and don’t want to get my ITB in the state it used to be needlessly!

(on day 3, done 3 4-milers with a little pain, but spent most of the rest of the time in my chacos)

2

Wow, I gotta admit…you lost me there. But can I ask how much your orthotics cost you? I’ve heard $250 tossed out as an estimate from my local PT–sound about right? Damn BlueCross doesn’t cover it though–only if it were a leg brace as required by law (or something like that). Ah well. Thanks in advance.

3

I think that’s nonsense…I have a similar, but opposite problem…no orthotics =ITBS, orthotics = foot tendonitis. I’ve gone to rotaing them based on what hurts at the moment.

Bottom line-if the old orthotics worked for you, I’d go right out and try to get an identical pair.

Taking a little time to break them in/get used to them makes sense, but if you are still aching after the break-in period, I’d throw 'em right in the trash.

Stan

4

I’m assuming you’re easing into them?

When I first switched to mine the new muscles I was using ached like crazy. And it took me three to four visits to get the modifications right. But each time I could tell they were a little better and I am so thankful for my orhtotics!

I would try using them for a bit each day and slowly ease into wearing them all the time.

I hope it works out great for you!

Dan
www.aiatriathlon.com

5

Yep–$250 is a good rough estimate (3 pairs over 10 years each cost about that). And no one has ever covered it (Principal, Aetna, Mega Life).

–zee

6

I had a custom orthotics too. My insurance at the time paid for them, so I gave it a try. I too have ITB problems. Now my insurance will not pay for them. They are 3 years old and I was worried about them breaking down. I went back to over the counter products. I would try them on at the local running store and have the staff watch me run. They seem to fix my foot plant problem. I hope this will lead to better knees. Even with the custom orthotics I had ITB flare ups.

Try over the counter products first. $30-$45 is cheeper than $250+