An orthopedic insole is a modified insole for shoes. It is intended to correct biomechanical disorders of the structure of the foot and to support its arches. Now both insoles for longitudinal flat feet and insoles for transverse flat feet are widely used.
It is important to note that orthopedic insoles are prescribed only for foot pathology. There are no preventative insoles. They are not intended for this. If a person is diagnosed with flat feet, it is recommended that he choose the right shoes and replace the insoles with orthopedic ones.
All existing orthopedic insoles for flat feet have a similar structure. An instep support is modeled in the area of the inner arch of the foot, a special depression is made in the heel area, the roll zone is raised, and a metatarsal cushion is placed in the area of the transverse arch. The front part of the orthopedic insole is not involved in the correction; it is called the “strap”. If you remove the strap, you get a half-insole.
An important element in the insole is the “wedges”. These are structural characteristics that allow you to change the angle of the foot relative to the surface. For example, with planovalgus flatfoot, the heel is deviated outward relative to the axis of the leg. Then a wedge is placed under the heel, with its thickening towards the inside of the foot, and the heel takes the correct position when walking. When the longitudinal arch of the foot is flattened, a traditional orthotic insole for longitudinal flatfoot has two wedges, an inner one under the heel and an outer one under the forefoot. Naturally, the effectiveness of the insole is affected not only by the location of the wedges, but also by their height.
Some pharmacies and specialty stores offer a variety of orthotics for flat feet, but it is preferable to have them made individually. Then they will take into account all the features of a particular person’s foot. Ready-made insoles are acceptable only for children 6-8 years old, and softened ones for the elderly and diabetics. Diabetic ones are soft pads. The functions of such insoles differ from those recommended for flat feet. They are made of synthetic fabric and filled with gel. This gel molds to the shape of your foot, evenly distributing the load, and protects against abrasions, while soft bolsters support the arch.
There are a wide variety of techniques and technologies for manufacturing orthopedic insoles. But, as a rule, they include 4 general stages:
Diagnosis of the foot and formulation of insoles should be carried out by a specialist orthopedic surgeon. The insole is made from various materials, from leather to modern polymers. An orthopedic insole is made from a plaster cast of the foot or from a computer image, the difference is not great. The decisive factor in the manufacture of orthopedic insoles for flat feet is the preparation of a competent formulation and its maximum implementation in the shape and structure of the insole. When the patient receives the insoles, he is given recommendations on how to properly care for them.
The best material for orthopedic insoles is genuine leather. Its properties are such that during walking it forms along the foot. And retains its shape throughout its entire service life. The service life of the average insole against flat feet of domestic production is determined to be two years. The backing and wedges are made of foamed polyethylene; it is quite safe and at the same time durable.
In the process of using insoles, it becomes necessary to adjust their design: change the roll zone, the height of the wedges and raise the metatarsal support. The orthopedic surgeon gives the necessary instructions, and the changes are made by the prosthetist technician. Some insoles provide for the patient to be able to correct them independently.
Orthopedists recommend insoles for flat feet from different manufacturers. Now you can find German, English, Polish and French insoles. The choice is very wide. The experimental enterprise CITO has a good reputation among domestic manufacturers. As for the cost, a finished orthopedic insole now costs from 500 to 1,500 Russian rubles. But individual production will cost an average of 3.5 to 4.5 thousand rubles. Orthopedic insoles for transverse flat feet do not differ in price range from those for longitudinal flat feet. Still, when it comes to treating flat feet, preference should be given to custom-made orthopedic insoles.
A healthy foot is very accurately and beautifully calculated by nature. The shock absorption and spring system of the foot protects the human skeleton from excessive loads and possible injuries. The ankle and knee joint form a pair, which also has a softening effect while walking. The foot settles when the strength of its muscles and ligaments is impaired. It loses its main function - springing. Then the joints and spine begin to struggle with the shaking. This is far from their function, so they eventually fail with serious consequences for the body. Flat feet are accompanied by pain and sometimes swelling. The pain intensifies when the body already loses its resources for comfortable movement. At this point, the posture is already impaired, the joints are damaged. Pathologies of the support and movement system can develop further, leading to scoliosis and arthrosis. After standing or walking for a long time, many people feel discomfort, swelling and fatigue in their legs. The reason may be the most banal - uncomfortable shoes. Inattention to the choice of shoes and insoles leads to the development of irregular gait and flat feet of various sizes.
Specialists of the Ukrainian Center for the Rehabilitation of Afghanistan Veterans have gained extensive experience in the manufacture of orthopedic insoles. Here you can order and buy silicone orthopedic insoles for feet at an affordable price, home delivery in Kyiv is possible. The price of an orthopedic shoe insole for flat feet in Ukraine depends on the material and manufacturing technology.
Sometimes it is enough to buy (receive) orthopedic insoles to make your favorite shoes the most comfortable. The insoles have affordable prices, a certain relief and many other advantages that give a positive effect:
Reduces pain in joints and feet due to arthritis;
Foot correction is carried out as prescribed by the orthopedist;
Despite daily stress, the user feels comfortable.
If you buy (receive) orthopedic insoles for shoes, you can successfully achieve several goals:
stop the progressing disease;
reduce discomfort when standing for long periods of time.
Orthopedic insoles also help with flattened feet (flat feet). To eliminate the problems that accompany flat feet, it is necessary to ensure the correct position of the foot. To correctly distribute the load on the musculo-ligamentous apparatus and prevent subsidence of the arch of the foot, it is necessary to install it along a certain axis. This task is performed by the instep support.
You can buy (receive) insoles for flat feet at the Kiev Ukrainian Center for the Rehabilitation of Afghanistan Veterans. Ukraine produces high-quality orthopedic products. The cost of orthotics varies in price. With them, patients receive:
healthy foot position;
minimum corns, abrasions, cracks and calluses;
lower likelihood of developing arthrosis;
reduction of pain in the lower leg and foot that occurs when walking;
unloading of joints, spine and muscles.
To turn uncomfortable shoes into comfortable ones, just use a cut insole or half-insole. What is the genius of such an invention? High-quality half-insoles support the front part of the foot, thereby relieving fatigue, discomfort and pain from standing for a long time. The half insole prevents flat feet. It improves blood supply to tissues, as it massages the sole when standing and walking. It is indicated for pregnancy, excess weight, transverse flat feet, varicose veins and other conditions. It is made from silicone, leather and other high-quality materials. Can last about a year. The adhesive base ensures a tight fit to the shoe.
To make individual insoles in Kyiv, at the rehabilitation center for Afghan veterans, an impression of the foot with its features is taken. The material used and the complexity of the products determine their prices in Ukraine. Doctors at the center in Kyiv will help you individually select and buy orthopedic insoles made in Ukraine. For each type of deformation, a specific material is used:
Steel, graphite, and plastic are used as materials for rigid insoles intended for patients with slight deformation of the arch of the foot and weighing more than 100 kg;
Semi-rigid instep supports are made from plastic, providing shock absorption when walking;
For mass production, leather and cork are usually used to adapt to the characteristics of the foot. With the help of factory-made products, flat feet can also be corrected for preventive purposes.
An orthopedic specialist will help you choose the right insoles. But your dialogue with your doctor will only become productive when you apply diligence and inquisitiveness and try to understand this issue yourself. Accumulate, so to speak, initial knowledge.
Let's take a closer look at the skeleton of our foot:
The very first impression is a lot of thin small bones. And it is they who are entrusted to carry our heavy oversized body every day! Do you think they, these bones, are worn out from such work? I have no doubt you will answer “Yes”.
Congenital pathologies, incorrect shoes, excessive loads, metabolic disorders - all this and much more affects the condition of the bones, ligaments and muscles of our graceful foot. The whole complex is called FOOT DEFORMITY .
Is it possible to help her? Well, of course you can. And the sooner we realize that the foot requires careful care, a reasonable attitude towards it, the right shoes, careful hygiene and persistent gymnastics, the longer it will serve us faithfully.
Among other means of preventing or caring for deformed feet, one of the most effective are mechanical supports for certain parts of the foot - they are called INSOLES . Or ORTHOPEDIC INSOLES .
How to choose orthopedic insoles
But before we start discussing the insoles themselves, let’s consider what kind of foot deformities occur.
The most common foot deformities are:
— flat feet (longitudinal, transverse, combined);
In practice, the degrees of deformation differ only in the degree of pain in the foot - from minimal with prolonged exercise to continuous and unbearable even at night, as well as the degree of swelling.
Of course, even when minimal discomfort appears, you should consult an orthopedic doctor and be prepared for the procedure of removing the “foot print” - it is from this mark that the doctor will determine both the type of flatfoot and its degree. And the prescribed treatment and the type of insoles will depend on this.
— valgus deformity of the foot (bump);
— varus deformity of the foot (load on the outer edge of the foot, the heel seems to be beveled inward)
Recommendations on how to choose insoles for flat feet will depend on the diagnosis
How to choose insoles for flat feet
Orthopedic insoles differ for children and adults.
A pediatrician will tell you how to choose orthopedic insoles for children, how and where to order them. As a rule, it is the correct selection of the very first insoles that will determine a person’s entire future life.
Among children, longitudinal flatfoot is the most common and this is always indicated in the name of the insole, and very often additional modules are sold in the kit to support the longitudinal arch of the foot:
How to choose insoles for combined flat feet: look for insoles with two or three points of support. For example, three-point insoles are designed to correct and support the longitudinal and transverse arches of the foot and reduce stress in the heel.
There are insoles for fixing the heel inside the shoe in the correct axis-shaped position, preventing curvature of the foot in the vargus-varus direction, correcting the correct orthopedic placement of the foot inside the shoe.
For adults, special orthopedic insoles are:
4) for the treatment of heel spurs;
More recently there have been:
5) semi-insoles-instep supports for prevention;
6) frame insoles for closed shoes;
7) semi-insoles-instep supports for women who prefer low heels.
What to pay attention to:
1 – on the instep – a hollow springy or dense filled part of the inner arch. In this case, it is worth trying both types of instep support - trust your feelings - which is more convenient.
Check the quality of the coating;
Deepening under the heel and the presence of special material under the heel;
The quality of the pad and how it fits your transverse arch (metatarsal ridge) - everyone's transverse arch is different
Check for heel wedges - this technique has become a classic in custom insoles.
Cut the insole to the exact shoe size
The insole material can be either natural or synthetic. In any case, hygienic care of the insole is necessary, which is described in the instructions.
Remember - our feet change, and every two years (or more often), you need to consult with an orthopedist and change your insoles!