The generally accepted role of foot orthotics in those with plantar fasciitis is to reduce the load in the plantar fascia so it can get better. To achieve that, the foot orthotic needs to have the right design features that reduce the load in the foot type of the individual. The role is not to […]
Tag Archives | foot orthotics
Custom made vs sham foot orthotics for achilles tendinopathy
I recently reviewed a study that showed foot orthotics reduced the load in the Achilles tendon but lamented by reflecting on comments that this was not a clinical trial, but a lab based study. Nothing wrong with that, but without field or clinical based studies we do not know if those lab based effects can […]
Muscle strength in shod, minimalist and foot orthotic wearing runners
I going to start off with this image¹: There is plenty of the usual propaganda and rhetoric about foot orthotics weakening muscles in the crankosphere blogosphere, therefore they are evil: Truth or lie? I already addressed the issue of running shoes weakening muscles (they don’t); but that has not stopped the fan boys still claiming that they […]
Foot Orthotics and Patellofemoral Pain
The focus in recent times on patellofemoral pain or anterior knee pain in runners has all been on the proximal issues despite two randomized controlled trials showing that distal issues (ie foot orthotics) work (see Collins et al & Eng et al). A number of proximal risk factors have been potentially identified and the concept of load reduction […]
The effects of foot orthoses on achilles tendon loads
Foot orthotics are commonly used to reduce load in the tissues to help manage overuse injuries in runners. They will only help if the injury is in a tissue that foot orthotics can actually reduce the load and the foot orthotic has the actual design features to reduce that load in the specific individual. When […]
Prefabricated vs Custom Made Orthotics for Plantar Fasciitis
This perennial issue has come up again with the publication of another study. I have done a previous rant elsewhere on this issue: The Redundancy of Research on Custom Made vs Prefabricated Foot Orthotics. The alleged evidence to date from most studies so far is that there are no differences in outcomes between custom made […]
Effects of “Foot Orthoses” on Running Mechanics in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
I have had a couple of emails about this study, mainly in the context that the study does not support the hypothesis I proposed on the potential role of foot orthotics in patellofemoral pain syndrome. Two randomized controlled trials tell us that foot orthotics do work in patellofemoral pain syndrome, so that is not the […]
The Paradox of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome and Foot Biomechanics
Probably the most common injury seen in runners is “runners knee” – or patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) or anterior knee pain or what it used to be called a long time ago, chondromalacia patallae. Typically the pain is around the patella and is aggravated by activity. The mechanism of the injury is overuse, but there […]
Short or Long Term Use of Foot Orthotics?
While the evidence of the efficacy of foot orthotics is really clear on them working, what is not so clear is if they are really needed over the longer term or if they should just be a short term intervention. Like a lot of other clinical decisions, there is no evidence to guide this, just […]
Do Foot Orthotics Really Work?
Of course they do. If anyone claims otherwise, they are making it up! Every single clinical outcome study (patient satisfaction; outcome study; controlled and uncontrolled study; randomized control trial), and there is now a lot of them, has shown that they work (except for one on bunions in kids); every systematic review of the evidence […]
‘Barefoot Science’ Insoles
If I was to invent an insole, maybe one with some fancy ‘bells and whistles‘ and then simply made the claim that it strengthens the muscles of the foot, would you believe me? What if I added the word ‘barefoot’ to the products name to make it sound impressive? Would you believe me then? Of […]