Up to 70% of runners will experience an injury in a given year.
Up to 70% of runners will experience an injury in a given year. This can lead to significant missed running time among bother amateur and professional runners. Foot orthotics represent one tool which may help reduce the risk of injury.
And, should injury occur, they may also assist with the patient’s recovery. In this article, we’ll briefly review the available literature, and attempt to draw conclusions as to the efficacy of orthotic devices in sports injury prevention This is a guest post from Pedorthotic Association of Cana da looking to increase awareness of foot orthotics among athletes. The Basics Foot orthotics, commonly referred to as shoe inserts, are used for a number of purposes including: Arch support Correction of overpronation and oversupination Treatment of lower limb injuries like plantar fasciitis Improving athletic performance Loosely, we’ll focus on injury prevention and recovery.
As such, we’ll discuss the correction of overpronation and oversupination (both of which can promote and exacerbate injury), and the treatment of various lower limb injuries. It should be noted that there are a number of ways in which a pedorthist can modify footwear. In this article, we focus on one such area - foot orthoses, or simply, orthotics.
Orthotics can be procured in 3 ways - prefabricated, semi-custom, and custom. Custom orthotics can be designed using foam box impressions, plaster casts, and 3D imaging. Example of semi-custom insole with various inserts in the background.
Challenges The study of orthotics presents a number of challenges. There are 3 ways of procuring orthotics, and a further 3 ways of designing custom orthotics. This means studies of one type of orthotic may reveal little to nothing about another kind of orthotic.
If you are experiencing symptoms that may be related to sports injuries and foot orthotics: prevention and recovery, it is important to see a sports medicine physician. Early evaluation and treatment typically lead to better outcomes. Do not ignore pain or symptoms that are limiting your activity.
*This article is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider.*
Connect with a doctor, physical therapist, or imaging center near you.
Find a Provider Near You →