How do you ease into orthitics? I have flat feet and have multiple problems with my feet on the run. Doc says I need them. Really painful at first. It is a releif to get out of the shoes that they are in. When to start to try and run in them? I wear multiple shoes in a day. Do I need them in all shoes. Is an orthotic something I need to wear 24/7? They are sort of painful after a half a day right now. Does it get better?
General rule is an hour the first day, 2 hours the next, 3 hours the next, etc. Add an hour each day. Don’t run in them for at least 1 week. Most are fine by 2 weeks - if not, go back and get them adjusted, changed, etc. assuming custom. This is assuming lots: rigid control, you “need” them, some type of posting, etc. They should have also been made for a RUNNER if you mentioned that as a very different topcover (like Spenco) is often used for cushioning.
I have experienced this recently. Loosen the strings on your shoes when using the orthotics. You really need shoes a half size bigger than normal with dress shoes for sure. You definitely want to wear the orthotics in all your shoes as much as possible. It could take a few weeks to get used to the orthotics.
I don’t know about 24/7, but I wear mine whenever I’m wearing shoes…
They took a week or two for me to get used to, but my feet hurt when I don’t wear them now, so yeah, it gets a lot better. I switch them from shoe to shoe as needed, although I use the superfeet inserts in my cycling shoes.
I got a pair about a month ago. My feet were killin me for a year and I thought there was no way these things were going to work.
I was told to wear them in all my shoes, all the time. I own more shoes than most women. Atleast 30 pairs. It’s my thing. I am far from organized. There is no way I would ever remember these things every single day. I stuffed them into my running shoes and have never taken them out. I did get new shoes since the fit was a bit different.
I was running maybe 15 miles a week prior to getting them and my feet hurt a lot. I have done 25-35 miles a week the past 4 weeks and my feet never hurt. Maybe I am lucky??
Not to switch topics but I was wondering what brands of custom orthotics you recommended and who made them for you (a chiropractor, foot doctor etc)?
The brand is powerstep. The orthotic is their protech full length arch support. http://www.powersteps.com/_medical/products.asp?page=3
I had a pair made by a podiatrist for me but couldn’t deal with how stiff and unforgiving they were. These Powersteps were recommended by a friend that is a podiatrist that stands behind them fully.
Mine have always been customs, as opposed to off the shelf. That being said, at $500 a pair, I had one pair and only wore them in my running shoes (and I am a raging overpronator with flat feet). I broke them (or me?) in on the 'mill, starting around 5 - 10 min, then increasing by 5 or 10 min until they felt normal. I never felt like it was a huge problem going from my running shows w/orthotics back to normal shoes. Since then, I’ve bought a second pair that I wear in my shoes at work all day. I don’t wear them in my normal “daily drivers” outside running / work and have never had a problem.
One thing to watch for though… I find I can’t let my running shoes wear out too much anymore. If I do, when I switch to new shoes, I get the old “New Orthotics” bowlegged/aching feet feeling again for a few runs…
Brad
If your orthotics hurt then you need better orthotics, you shouldn’t have to break them in. The chiro that owns the running store I manage makes custom orthos and deals almost exclusively with runners. I notice that occasionally there is slight discomfort with the ortho but NEVER pain. If there is even a slight discomfort he reworks thenm until they fit properly.
A lot of times when people come in with orthos that “hurt” they are severely rigid. Running orthotics should be flexible in order to allow you foot as much ROM as possible while reducing the original problem area.
I have footlevelers orthotics from my chiropractor. Both feet are digitally scanned so it is 100% image of both feet. I have worn orthotics for many years. These are my fourth pair and I Love them. www.footlevelers.com
General rule is an hour the first day, 2 hours the next, 3 hours the next, etc. Add an hour each day. Don’t run in them for at least 1 week
The podiatrist I saw last week neglected to tell me that when he made orthotics for me… I walked for 5 mi this morning with them, they felt so odd running. Am easing into them but again learning it the hard way!
hey guys. perfect timing on this thread.
i just had my 1st ever orthotics (custom) done 2 weeks ago.
prior to that, ive been running and racing a lot.
been injured a lot in my first few years of running…
didnt really know i was flat footed. when i found out i bought shoes with motion control (adidas supernova control) and that did the trick.
got a couple of questions regarding orthotics…
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in my first 10k run with them (only had them for 5 days) i got blisters on both my feet. should i have it re-adjusted? is this normal? or i just hadnt broken into them properly yet? been using them up to now but with thicker socks… the blister didnt get worse. but the problem is my shoes feels tight as hell.
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does having orthotics mean i could now use any shoe i want? without worrying about over pronating?
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what happens now to my motion control shoes? i just inserted my orthotics into my supernova and im afraid i might get a lil too much support for the arch. is there such a thing?
thanks guys. i’d appreciate any inputs.
Yeah, racing a 10K 5 days after some new orthotics will no doubt cause a bilster on your medial arch about 2 inches behind the great toe joint.
As a general rule of thumb, you would NOT use a rigid polypropylene type orthotic in a motion control shoe. A structured cushioning type shoe is best at first, then a neutral shoe in many people if you don’t need any further rearfoot posting. Those with significant PT tendon dysfunction and/or genu valgum (“knock kneed”) probably should not, but others would do fine in a neutral shoe - plus they are much lighter, and adding the orthotic would about equal the motion control shoe anyway. The added benefit is the shoe will give a much nicer “ride” over the very clunky and oft overbuilt heels of a true motion control shoe (i.e. Brooks Beast, Asics MC Plus, etc.)
yeah… thats exactly where i got my blister.
what shoe are you using?
i wonder how many in here is using a motion control shoe along with orthotics?
or did everyone gave up their motion controls when they got the orthotic.
it just sucks coz i have 2 pairs of the same shoe 
its gonna suck not being able to use em anymore for running.
Hey all,
There was a great TV interview called CBC Marketplace that looked at the these companies (foot levelers. The orthotic group, Footmaxx etc) and called them total scams.
They take a 2D scan of the foot (which takes all of 10 seconds), and then build a 3D orthotic-which is not possible. Then it turns out that they don’t custom make them at all, but they select the closest they can from their “stock” sizes. So they are not custom at all.
From the CBC (canadian broadcasting corporation) website;
http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/sole_patrol/
I am glad you have had a positive experience, just sharing the dirt I have come across
Back to the OP, any transition into new footbeds, rroof’s advice is correct-slowly does it…
Don’t worry what shoe I use - I have, oh, 10 or 11 at the moment (most are free and I try out LOTS of them). I don’t run in orthotics though.
You may not have any issues with an orthotic in a motion control shoe (BTW, what shoe are you using exactly?). If you start to experience lateral foot, outside leg or outer knee pain, if is probably too much.
im using adidas supernova… the one with motion controls
Ah, sorry - saw that above. You may do OK with that since the Supernova is not really much a true motion control shoe, but more of a structured cushioning type shoe. There is no industry std. definition regarding the various types of shoes, so what Brooks calls a motion control shoe is vastly different than Adidas for example. You may still prefer a more neutral shoe though and I don’t find Adidas shoes do all that great with orthotics (esp models with the foremotion techology) since they have medial rearfoot post AND on of the few with a forefoot post as well. I do, however, like their shoes for those the need some support and are NOT wearing orthotics - esp their lightweight models like the Adistar Tempo.