| Our feet carry the entire weight of our bodies day in | | | | 3. If the shoes are slightly or significantly worn on the |
| and day out. It is easy to understand how these 26 | | | | outside of the soles, then you exhibit an |
| small bones won't always stay in alignment as they | | | | under-pronation (supination) running gait. This means |
| absorb the impact of your body during daily and | | | | that your ankle is absorbing a lot of the pressure. |
| athletic activities. When the bones in your feet fall | | | | You want a soft neutral insole or an orthotic that will |
| out of alignment your ankles, knees, hips, and back | | | | help to position your foot correctly. More on |
| can all suffer from what seems to be that | | | | Orthotics |
| temporary pain during standing, walking, or running. | | | | Orthotic insoles do more than support your foot; |
| Spenco Arch Supports may be just what you need | | | | they work to correct and stabilize the position of |
| to keep your foot arch supported and in alignment, | | | | your running gait for maximum results and comfort. |
| helping to position your feet to carry the load. | | | | Spenco orthotic insoles are moldable for firm |
| Regardless of whether you already experience some | | | | customized support. They work to prevent and |
| amount of pain or just slight fatigue after your daily | | | | correct deformities in your feet that have kept you |
| activity, Spenco Arch Supports and Insoles supply | | | | from normal, comfortable movement. |
| your feet with the extra support and cushioning so | | | | Orthotics can help with foot problems more than the |
| that your feet can perform naturally and comfortably. | | | | average insole because orthotic supports exert |
| And when your feet are comfortable and energize, | | | | gentle consistent pressure to bring your foot muscles |
| this takes the pressure off your ankles, knees, hips, | | | | and joints back into proper alignment, relieving the |
| and back. | | | | pressure your feet, ankles, knees, and back have |
| Getting started with finding the right Arch Support | | | | been implementing in reaction to your misalignment. |
| for you: | | | | Special Information for Women: |
| Let us start by clearing up some common | | | | Women have many of the same considerations as |
| misunderstandings about insoles and arch supports: | | | | men when it comes to selecting an insole, but they |
| High or low arches don't mean that your foot is not | | | | also have different needs that might not be apparent |
| aligned; rather it is how the foot functions during its | | | | that must be noted: |
| natural stride in motion, a.k.a. its running gait, which | | | | - Wider hips. A woman has relatively wider hips, |
| determines the support you'll need. | | | | meaning over-pronation is more common in women |
| Traditionally, insoles or orthotics were hard plastic | | | | than men due to a quadriceps angle of 18 degrees |
| inserts placed in the shoe to cup the heel and | | | | rather than 13. Spenco took this into serious |
| support the arch but because they were not flexible | | | | consideration, creating the Q-factor line just for |
| they did not relieve the pressure causing pain. NOW, | | | | women to aid this problem. |
| Spenco insoles work to provide stability and cushion, | | | | - Bone mass. While running and other high impact |
| promoting correct foot alignment, pressure relief, and | | | | aerobics promotes denser bones, women — |
| flexibility. | | | | especially older women — are prone to |
| Finally, if you experience light pain or fatigue, or | | | | osteoporosis. For this reason, Spenco created the |
| maybe you just need extra support for all day foot | | | | women's Q-factor Cushioning insole to reduce the |
| activity, try neutral insoles like the Spenco RX | | | | shock transmitted to the ankles and legs. Gel and |
| Cushioning line or the Gel Line for great shock | | | | soft insole from the Spenco RX line are also |
| absorption and soft support! | | | | recommended. |
| Determining your running gait to find the right Insoles | | | | More on Pronation: |
| and Arch support: | | | | What is Pronation? |
| Quick reminder: Your running gait comes from the set | | | | Pronation is the foot in motion. During forward |
| of movements and tensions that your foot endures | | | | movement, not only is the foot moving from heel to |
| while in motion in order to support, cushion, and | | | | toe, but it is also rolling from the outer edge to the |
| balance your body. The phases of running gate | | | | inner edge. Everyone pronates, it is the healthy, |
| include 1) initial contact and stability phase, 2) full | | | | natural way for the foot to absorb and displace the |
| contact with the ground and launching phase, and | | | | shock of impact, while preparing it to correctly push |
| finally 3) no contact or the 'relief' phase. | | | | forward. What is over-pronation? |
| To understand and verify your running gait, look at a | | | | An over-pronator lands in an already pronated |
| pair of used shoes. Examine the bottom of your | | | | position and continues to roll inward as they go from |
| shoes and you should notice one of the following | | | | heel strike to toe off. This excessive inward motion |
| three markings: | | | | is best countered with firm inside arch support. If |
| | | | over pronation goes uncorrected the arch will flatten, |
| 1. If the shoes are slightly or significantly worn on the | | | | collapse, and the soft tissues will stretch, causing the |
| insides (near at the top and bottom of the arches) | | | | joint surfaces to function at uncomfortable and |
| of the soles, then you exhibit an over-pronation | | | | unhealthy angles. Eventually, joints that should be |
| running gait. This is the most common foot problem, | | | | stable become very loose and flexible. Here, we see |
| especially for women. Most arch support insoles/ | | | | that catching the problem really can prevent further |
| orthotics will relieve this problem. Depending on the | | | | damage and pain |
| angle of wear and your specific activities, you can | | | | What is under-pronation? |
| determine what Insole is right for you. (For more on | | | | An under-pronator lands in a supinated position and |
| orthotics and women's special needs scroll down) | | | | experiences very little pronation, meaning that from |
| 2. If the shoes appear to be neutral and do not show | | | | impact to toe-off their foot does not roll inward as |
| wear on the outside or inside, then you exhibit a | | | | much as the normal foot should. This lack of inward |
| pronation-neutral running gait. This is the least | | | | motion causes stress on the ankles and more shock |
| problematic, a soft arch cushion or an energizing gel | | | | impact on the ankles, knees, hips, and back. Extra |
| insole is suggested to promote flexibility and shock | | | | cushioning softens impact and promotes an inward |
| absorption. | | | | roll. |