Running with Flat Feet? 4 Reasons You Need Special Sports Insoles
Posted on: 16 September 2016
If you've been diagnosed with flat feet, it's likely that you'll need to slip special insoles into your shoes to provide proper support while you're walking. Due to the rigorous nature of running, having insoles in your running shoes is particularly important, but you can't use any old kind. The differences in motion and the elevated activity level involved in running means that you should buy special sport insoles for your trainers instead of the more basic kind you use in your everyday shoes.
Here are just four reasons why.
1. Additional Cushioning
The most important reason to pick sports insoles instead of standard ones for your running shoes is that the former will boast higher levels of cushioning material. While running, each footfall brings down your entire weight onto the foot in question. That can be tough for people with flat feet since they lack adequate arch support. Normal insoles just won't provide such firm support to correct this problem, especially after a mile or two of pounding the pavement.
2. Flexible
Sports insoles don't just provide more cushioning than regular ones — you'll also find that they tend to be a little more flexible. The motion of bringing your heel down and then pushing off with the front of your foot sees that foot bending more than it would during regular walking, so the insole needs to be built to deal with such bending on a regular basis.
3. Moisture Wicking
This isn't something that applies to all sports insoles, but you'll usually find that these have been made using moisture-wicking materials, particularly across the top section that lies against your soles. Your feet obviously produce more sweat when you run; having that sweat wicked away is clearly for the better.
4. Full-Length and Well-Fitted
Many insoles made for everyday shoes don't run along the whole length of the foot. Wearing these in your trainers is a big no-no. You'll find that they tend to slide around too much as you run. When this happens, your feet won't be receiving the support that your insoles were meant to provide in the first place. You might also trip if the insoles have slipped around too much. Sports insoles will always be full length, and they tend to be made to fit sports shoes and hiking boots, which are often a little wider than normal shoes.
Don't worry, the days of having to pay hundreds of dollars for custom-made orthotics is long gone, so you should be able to find affordable sports inserts at a fraction of such prices. Your feet will thank you. If you have questions about how to choose the right orthotics, make sure to consult with a podiatrist.
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