Ask A Professional: Orthotics & Running: Are all orthotics made alike?
Othotics & Running: Are all orthotics made alike?
By: Deny Dallaire, B.Sc., C.Ped (C)Certified Pedorthist (Canada) with Thera-Ped Moncton
Last April, my cousin John Dallaire ran the Boston Marathon in 3 hours and 43 minutes. He told me later that week that he would never want to run without his custom-made orthotics.
When he started training for his marathon, John approached me and asked me to make him some custom orthotics to help with some heel and Achilles tendon pain he was having. We worked together and finally came up with a pair of orthotics that was right for him.
With John's permission, I share this with you because not all orthotics are made alike when it comes to running. Often, an orthotic meant for running should not be worn in any other shoes. The reasons for this are because running gait is different than walking gait and because the forces acting on the feet are different and in a different sequence than during normal activity. Finding the right balance between the foot, the orthotic and the running shoe can take several weeks to achieve.
My experience with John taught me to rethink how I provide pedorthic therapy to runners. Now, when treating runners, I usually build orthotics that can be easily modified. Then, I follow up regularly with the patient and adjust the devices until we achieve the right results. This also allows us to accommodate for any injuries that may occur during training.
If you are a runner and think you may need custom orthotics, talk to your doctor, or consult your pedorthist. Also, if you are a runner, please remember the following: Not every runner needs orthotics and if you are a pronator, remember that pronation is how your foot absorbs shock. Stopping it completely can cause more problems than it fixes.
By: Deny Dallaire, B.Sc., C.Ped (C)Certified Pedorthist (Canada) with Thera-Ped Moncton
Last April, my cousin John Dallaire ran the Boston Marathon in 3 hours and 43 minutes. He told me later that week that he would never want to run without his custom-made orthotics.
When he started training for his marathon, John approached me and asked me to make him some custom orthotics to help with some heel and Achilles tendon pain he was having. We worked together and finally came up with a pair of orthotics that was right for him.
With John's permission, I share this with you because not all orthotics are made alike when it comes to running. Often, an orthotic meant for running should not be worn in any other shoes. The reasons for this are because running gait is different than walking gait and because the forces acting on the feet are different and in a different sequence than during normal activity. Finding the right balance between the foot, the orthotic and the running shoe can take several weeks to achieve.
My experience with John taught me to rethink how I provide pedorthic therapy to runners. Now, when treating runners, I usually build orthotics that can be easily modified. Then, I follow up regularly with the patient and adjust the devices until we achieve the right results. This also allows us to accommodate for any injuries that may occur during training.
If you are a runner and think you may need custom orthotics, talk to your doctor, or consult your pedorthist. Also, if you are a runner, please remember the following: Not every runner needs orthotics and if you are a pronator, remember that pronation is how your foot absorbs shock. Stopping it completely can cause more problems than it fixes.
