What are orthopaedic insoles?
Orthopaedic insoles are an aid for the treatment of various orthopaedic complaints such as foot problems, back or knee pain. They are individually made to measure for the patient and can be placed inconspicuously in normal everyday shoes. The materials used to make insoles vary depending on the treatment objective and range from leather and plastic to semi-rigid materials such as cork or wood/leather combinations and gel insoles.
Shoes and insoles should form a functional unit, which is why the doctor also examines the patient’s footwear when fitting the insoles.
Orthopaedic insoles
Doctors differentiate between various orthopaedic insoles depending on the symptoms and treatment goal:
- Corrective insoles
- Supportive insoles
- Bedding insoles (gel insoles)
- Insoles for immobilization
- Insoles to compensate for leg or foot length differences
- Insoles for shock absorption
- Proprioceptive insoles (active insoles with effects on muscle tension)
When do you need orthopaedic insoles?
Foot malpositions and diseases
The doctor can prescribe orthopaedic insoles for the following foot malpositions and diseases:
- Arched flat foot
- hollow foot
- Splayfoot
- Instability in the upper ankle joint
- Pain in the metatarsal bones
- Foot malpositions in rheumatic diseases
- Particularly vulnerable soles of the feet with diabetes
Orthopaedic insoles with a cushioning effect and soles for shock absorption can alleviate the symptoms of the following conditions:
- Reduced soft tissue of the sole of the foot
- Injured soles of the foot (e.g. nerve disorders)
- Rheumatic diseases
- Flat, splay and hollow feet,
- Painful misalignment of the big toe (hallux valgus)
- Heel spur
Insoles are often used after operations to immobilize joints in the midfoot and forefoot area in order to protect the surgical wound until healing is complete.
Insoles can also be used to compensate for incorrect posture with a difference in leg or foot length of up to five to ten millimetres. A greater difference in leg length can be compensated for with an orthopaedic shoe.
Sensorimotor insoles
Modern, “depth-sensitive” so-called sensorimotor or proprioceptive insoles are used to activate the foot muscles and influence the gait pattern in the case of neurological diseases of the brain or spinal cord.
You can read exactly how sensorimotor foot orthoses work in the article Sensorimotor foot orthoses.
What do you do when fitting orthopaedic insoles?
Before fitting orthopaedic insoles, the doctor examines the feet: he checks the mobility of the joints, measures the leg lengths and axes and looks for any calluses or pressure points.
With the help of the so-called footprint analysis, it is possible to measure how the patient steps. This involves the patient walking over a type of foam stamp pad and leaving a footprint.
With more informative electronic foot pressure measurements, the patient walks over a plate that records and analyzes the rolling motion of the foot when walking. The doctor uses a computer to evaluate which areas of the sole of the foot are subject to the greatest strain.
In complicated cases, the orthopaedist makes a plaster cast of the affected foot, which provides a comprehensive three-dimensional image of the foot. Based on the impression, the insoles are made individually and precisely using a computer-controlled milling machine.
What are the risks of orthopaedic insoles?
Rigid insoles can lead to inactivation and therefore weakening of the foot muscles. It is therefore important, especially for children, to move the foot regularly, for example with the help of foot gymnastics.
Orthopaedic insoles: What do I need to consider?
The success of the treatment depends primarily on consistent use. You should therefore wear orthopaedic insoles every day if possible. The insoles are usually adapted so that they can be used in everyday shoes. Initially, it is quite normal for walking with the insoles to feel unfamiliar. As long as you don’t feel any pain, you should still use the orthopaedic insoles consistently; most people get used to the insoles after a short time.
