Definition of insoles
Shoe insoles are additional and specially shaped soles inserted into the shoe which shape the arch of the foot in a special way in order to revise postural deformities of the body during upright walking and running.
Fields of application
In most cases, shoe insoles are always used when posture problems are likely to occur. These postural defects can affect the spinal column, in which case postural defects in the form of a hollow back or severe flexion of the thoracic spine (kyphosis) occur. In this case, insoles can compensate for the patient’s false statics.
By means of different elevations of the lateral edges of the foot or by relieving the balls of the feet, the patient’s overall statics can be improved and postural damage to the spine can be reduced. In addition to postural deformities of the spine, malpositions of the legs and feet offer another field of application for shoe insoles. In the area of the legs, especially bow legs (genu valgus) and bow legs (genu varum) can be corrected by wearing insoles for many years.
In the case of bow legs, elevations of the outer edges of the foot can lead to straightening of the legs. In the case of bow legs, an elevation of the inner side of the foot can be useful. In addition, insoles are used to correct numerous defective positions of the feet and toes.
Insoles can therefore be used locally (feet and legs) or systematically (entire body skeleton and static of the spine). An increasingly frequent field of application for insoles is an area that is rather unobviously related to postural deformities. Pain in the jaw area and toothache can be signs of postural defects in the entire spinal skeleton.
It is now known that postural defects of the spine and legs as well as the feet are passed on upwards towards the head and can thus also cause poor posture in the jaw area. These malpositions in the jaw can manifest themselves in a malocclusion, which can lead to discomfort in the area of the teeth (pain in the teeth and irregular bite). Dentists who see patients with unspecific tooth and jaw pain should also always consider postural defects of the skeleton.
Sensomotoric/Proprioceptive insoles: These are insoles that adapt to the movement of the foot and “counteract” it accordingly. This new type of insole technology is mainly used for paralysis (spasticity), rotational malpositions of the legs and foot malpositions (pointed foot, flat foot, bent foot). Soft padded insoles: Today a widely used type of insoles.
When the foot stands on it, the insole tends to expand, i.e. the shoe must offer sufficient space. Soft padded insoles can support, cushion, correct. They are used for malpositioning, diabetes, rheumatism, postural deformities and splayfeet as well as for running.
Long-sole cork and leather insoles: These are composite insoles made of cork and leather, which are connected to each other by means of a binding material. Long-shoe means that the sole is usually not able to slip and is not perceived as a nuisance under the ball of the foot. The area of application is the bent foot, splayfoot and hollow foot.
Three-quarter cork and leather insoles: They correspond approximately to the long-shoe form with the difference that they end directly under the ball of the foot and are therefore often perceived as disturbing. They are used for knee malpositions, splayfoot, flat foot and flat feet. However, the advantage of the insoles is that they also fit into tighter cut shoes.
Plastic insoles: This type of insoles takes up the least volume in the shoe, i.e. it is not necessary to pay attention to a large shoe. These insoles are used for many foot and leg malpositions. Each insole is individually adjusted to the foot and according to the existing malpositions.
For this purpose, an impression is first made. This impression is then used to create a corresponding computer matrix using CAD, which is then fed into a machine. This machine then produces the insole from the corresponding basic materials.
The patient is then fitted, and either the patient wears his insoles to the trial or he walks a few steps on the treadmill. The orthopedic technician can then see whether the insoles fit and adapt to the ankle. The cost varies greatly depending on the materials used.
Depending on them, they are either paid for by the public health insurance companies or require membership in a private health insurance company. The most commonly prescribed insoles are the cork insoles.They are also the cheapest to produce and are usually paid for by the statutory health insurance. Sensorimotor insoles are expensive and are usually only covered by private health insurance companies.
With plastic insoles, it depends on the individual case whether the costs are covered by public health insurance. They are slightly more expensive than cork insoles and are prescribed less often. Whether a malposition can be corrected by insoles depends on two essential factors: First, how severe the malposition is, and second, when the wearing of the insoles begins.
The earlier and the more consistently insoles are worn, the better the chances of success. The chances of success are correspondingly lower in older patients who start wearing insoles late. Shoe insoles play an important role in orthopedic technology.
They are always used when patients have malpositioned feet, legs or the spine. They are also used when the malpositioning and the imbalance in the statics of the skeleton result in a malocclusion with jaw and tooth pain. The aim of every insole is to compensate for the malpositioning of the arch of the foot by means of appropriate elevations.
There are different types of insoles. The most commonly used are insoles made of cork. A distinction is made between long and short versions.
Foam insoles require a rather large expansion space and correspondingly large shoes. Plastic insoles, on the other hand, require only a small space in the shoes, but are somewhat more expensive to produce. Newer, more modern and even more expensive insoles are also called sensomotoric insoles.
They will probably be used more and more frequently in the future. Insoles are usually paid for by the public health insurance companies. But here it depends on which materials are used.
While insoles made of cork are almost always paid for, statutory health insurance companies only pay for insoles made of plastic in exceptional cases and sensorimotor insoles almost never. The smaller the patient’s deformities are, the earlier the insoles are worn and, above all, the more regularly they are worn, the more successful the achieved result is. However, older patients who have a pronounced malposition of the feet or legs can rarely achieve success with insoles.
