Insoles For Flat Feet Are Not As Effective As They Seem
Insoles for those who are flat footed indeed seem to be quite popular in this day and age. Perhaps because I’ve had my fair share of foot issues, including a flat foot reconstructive surgery, I do see plenty of ads online advertising insoles for flat feet directed at me. Perhaps, the same thing is happening to you.
HOWEVER, just because insoles are popular though, does not mean that they are the best choice for you.
Insoles in general are kind of like the popular girl in High School everyone wants to be with (or popular guy if you’re a woman reading this). They may seem appealing at first, but once you get to REALLY know them…let’s just say…..it’s different.
Anyways, I could elaborate on and on about my dalliances with the women of the city, my accomplishments in the arts, my search for inner truth, ALL…THAT….STUFF. But, we’re here to discuss insoles for flat feet, so that’s EXACTLY what we’re gonna do!
So in case you are reading this and not sure what the heck insoles are, they’re what you see in this picture below.
Pretty much you insert the insoles into your shoes and they are supposed to help you out. Heck, according to some of the people touting them, you’d think that the insoles themselves have been divinely blessed! A lot of the stuff I see out there is truly Pollyanna rah-rah-rah rubbish!
Those who tout the benefits of insoles for flat feet in a more humble manner list a variety of benefits. These benefits include increased shock absorption, greater comfort, and greater foot support. Although insoles for flat feet provide these things to various degrees, they often FAIL to address the main issue regarding flat feet.
The core issue with flat feet is not one of shock absorption or comfort. The MAJOR issue with flat feet is a MOVEMENT, or biomechanical issue.
In case you didn’t get that, the way that flat feet tend to move is what is causing issues like foot and knee pain.
Because your feet are the foundation of your entire body, the way they move will affect your whole body!
How Flat Feet Throw Your Whole Body Off
As you can see in the picture above, flat feet consists of having collapsed arches. In a normal foot, there is an arch, which allows one to maintain good patterns of movement.
With flat feet however, when you stand, the arch is not there. It has collapsed.
Essentially what happens then with collapsed arches, as you will soon see me explain in a video, is this.
With collapsed arches, your heel tends to come out to the side.
Your lower leg bone, or Tibia, then twists inwards. This will cause your knees to go into a knock kneed position, causing knee pain.
Your upper leg bone, or Femur, then twists inwards too. This will place extra pressure at your hips.
Your Femurs twisting inwards will then cause your Pelvis to tilt forwards as well.
Because your Spine rests on top of your pelvis, your spine is pulled forward with it.
Your spine being pulled forward more then causes additional compression in your lower back, or back pain.
So as you can see, flat feet INDEED can potentially affect your entire body, from your feet, to your back, to even your neck and head. Orthotics, however, which you can purchase at Amazon, will help to correct all of this.
Why I Like Orthotics Better Than Shoe Insoles For Flat Feet
Now, perhaps I’m a bit biased when it comes to Orthotics, given that I have worn them since about 12 years old.
But, putting my own personal biases aside, I can objectively say that foot orthotics are indeed better than insoles for flat feet.
In fact, I’ve kept you all waiting LONG ENOUGH for a video of me comparing orthotics to insoles. So here’s my video!
As you can see from the video, I think foot orthotics are much better than insoles. However, my orthotics are custom made and were over $400. I don’t think you are willing to spend that much!
If you do have foot pain though, an off-the-shelf pair of orthotics could perhaps help you out. I recommend trying the off-the-shelf type first. If those don’t work out for you, you can always get custom made orthotics like me (although I’m guessing you’ll want to save money first!)
So if you want them, you can go to Amazon to purchase foot orthotics.
Getting back to this though, I realize my video may not have given the clearest view of my personal orthotic. So for a closer view, I’ll put a picture of one of my own personal ones right here.
As you can see from that picture, an orthotic indeed provides more support than insoles for flat feet do. A huge thing I like about orthotics is that they are more firm than insoles. While you can often twist an insole like crazy, you cannot do the same to a foot orthotic!
If you take ANYTHING away from this article, it should be this. The orthotic is built to support your inner arch, as well as to control the motion of your heel bone. By the orthotic controlling your foot in such a manner, it will prevent, or at least help to alleviate those bad movement patterns that would otherwise travel up your body.
A flat foot insole though, in most cases, will fail to effectively control the foot. Although it may provide extra cushioning and shock absorption, those things will NOT address your major issue, which is a movement problem. In fact, by the flat foot insole providing relief to your foot, it could just be making your problems WORSE in the long run!
Having that happen is definitely NOT good, as in time, flat feet can potentially cause problems like Plantar fasciitis, tendonitis of your Tibialis Posterior at your foot (I had this and it is VERY painful!), and sprains at your Medial Collateral Ligament at your knee.
My Concluding Thoughts On Shoe Insoles For Flat Feet vs. Foot Orthotics
Essentially with flat feet, it is a movement problem that you want to correct.
What most insoles do, however, is address the SYMPTOMS of your pain, not the CAUSE of it!
By the insoles for flat feet simply providing additional comfort and shock absorption, they are still allowing your arch to collapse and affect your whole body.
Because the orthotic is more rigid and meant to control your heel bone and raise up your arch, it will actually help to correct the CAUSE of your pain.
For that reason, I highly recommend getting foot orthotics rather than insoles for flat feet.
To get a pair of them for yourself, you can buy your foot orthotics at Amazon.
