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be
ac t i ve
How An
Orthotic
Improves
Comfort
It’s true that a well construct-
ed shoe should be able to
provide the support you need
for your daily or athletic activi-
ties, but what if that shoe is
not 100% comfortable, or if
you love them but still find
you are getting pain? Your
next step may be to replace
those flat, foamy insoles with
something more supportive or
structured.
Comfort is key when it comes
to anything that you put on
your feet. Your feet actually
have the highest concentra-
tion of nerve endings in
your entire body - between
100,000
and 200,000, making
them very sensitive. This
heightened sensitivity allows
you to judge fairly quickly
whether a shoe is comfortable
or not, but does comfort
translate into performance or
efficiency when you are
actually using your feet?
Research suggests that being
in a comfortable, custom made
orthotic can alter muscle ac-
tivity. Researchers from the
University of Calgary had
subjects try a generic insole,
versus a custom made
orthotic and asked them to
rate comfort. Not only was
the custom made orthotic
more comfortable, they also
found that being in the less
comfortable insole makes
your muscles work harder
and may cause them to
fatigue earlier. So, being
uncomfortable could cause
you to tire more easily. Tir-
ing out your muscles quickly
is not productive if you are
exercising or working on
your feet, so comfort can
play a big role in getting
you through your day.
This begs the question:
how can you increase
comfort in your favourite
footwear? According to
the University of Calgary
researchers, comfort comes
from customization. It is
suggested that matching
the shape of the insole
to the individual’s foot to
create a close match is
one of the most important
elements in characterizing
comfort. When you purchase
insoles from a pharmacy or
department store, chances
are very high that they are
not a perfect match for your
feet. Although there are
some products that claim to
be “custom fit,” this is not
the same as custom made.
Custom made products
(
orthotics in particular) must
adhere to certain criteria to
be considered truly custom.
Your custom made orthotics
must be crafted starting
with a 3-dimensional (3D)
cast/impression of your
foot. Unfortunately, as cool
Next time you put on your favourite shoes, take
a moment to check out the insoles that are
inside. Often times you’ll find there’s not a lot
in there! Manufacturers typically use thin liners
or generic foam insoles that do not provide
any support to the arches of your feet. (Keep
in mind you have three arches in the foot -
medial, lateral and transverse that should be
supported while you stand and walk!)
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