Custom Insoles For Athletes

Nobody places stress on their feet quite like athletes. Whether you run or play high-performance sports such as football, basketball, soccer, or ballet, athletes of all types need to protect their feet from injury and pain.

Anyone with an active lifestyle can benefit from sports orthotics, or insoles for cleats. If you do not take the proper precautions to prevent injury or provide support for your feet, you risk considerable damage over time. Consider that the entire body is connected together – when damage happens to your feet, certain stressors will impact other parts of your body as well. If one part of your foot is experiencing pain or injury – for example, callouses or heel pain – then this can have a rippling effect throughout the body.

Most shoes are not designed to support the individual needs of athletes, particularly those who participate in high intensity movements. Even running shoes can use a little extra help because, while supportive, they were not made for your specific needs.

Footstar Orthotics is proud to offer sports orthotics and custom insoles for athletes of every background. Our insoles offer solutions for individuals who want to prevent injury before it happens, and solve current issues they are facing with their feet. Read below to find out more information on how sports orthotics can improve your performance.

Without the proper support from performance orthotics and regular care during practice, it is not uncommon for athletes to experience injury. These injuries can vary in severity and duration, and you may not even be aware that they exist yet. However, if nothing is done about a potential issue, it is likely that other issues will arise or even cause permanent damage to other parts of the body, such as your back or shoulders.

Runners, for example, especially need to pay careful attention to the care of their feet. In terms of orthotics, they need an insole that can provide a high level of shock absorption. This is because they tend to practice and race on harder surfaces. Custom insoles for athletes will be able to prevent other common issues listed below:

This occurs with the inflammation of cartilage under the kneecap. A large percentage of injuries are associated with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome. This is one of the most common knee injuries a runner can have. Individuals who have weak quads, hips, or glutes are also at a higher risk of suffering pain from this condition.

The Achilles tendon is a critical part of the lower leg. This is the main tendon that connects the calf muscles to the heel of the foot. If this tendon becomes overworked or stressed, it can tighten and cause pain in the leg. People who dramatically increase the rigor of their training or undergo extreme activity are at a higher risk of getting this condition.

This is a group of muscles in the leg that run down the thigh and assist in bending the knee. The most common issue with the hamstring is pain or irritation. This prevents athletes from properly extending their legs during regular exercise. Any issues with the hamstring are a result of the muscles being either too short or too stretched out.

When running, it is not surprising that the foot absorbs the majority of the impact. Frequent running or playing other sports can cause small tears, inflammation, and other damage to the ligaments and tendons found in the foot. This is an issue related to Plantar Fasciitis, and the pain associated with this injury can feel similar to having a bruise along the bottom of the foot.

Runners can experience small tears in the muscles that surround the tibia from excessive movements. This can create a pain around the shin bone. Shin splints frequently occur with newer runners, or runners who have returned to the activity after an extended amount of time. Shin splints are also a clear indication that an athlete is attempting to exert themselves too much in a short span of time.

The iliotibial band is a tendon that runs from the hip to the knee on the outside of the thigh. When an individual begins to run, then the following movement can cause a negative friction between the iliotibial band and the femur bone. This can cause irritation or pain if an athlete is pursuing excessive activity or a lot of downhill running.

As the name implies, this injury is the result of excessive stress that can cause a fracture in a bone. Runners may experience a stress fracture in many parts of their legs, depending on the type of exercise they are participating in. This is a very serious injury resulting from over training that can be diagnosed by your local doctor or other medical professional. This injury may take a long time to heal and requires complete rest.

Runners and other athletes can experience pain in many areas of the body. Although the majority of pain occurs in the legs or feet, it is also quite possible for runners to experience back pain and even shoulder pain. Particular areas of pain for runners include:

• Feet
• Ankles
• Calves
• Thighs
• Knees
• Lower back
• Upper back
• Shoulders

Foot imbalances can originate from a variety of causes, but they are most generally a result of an injury or a pre-existing condition. Runners may experience a foot imbalance when one of their feet becomes injured from strenuous activity or an accident.

However, foot imbalances can also occur from not wearing the right shoes or support during exercise. The vast majority of shoes are not created to actually support the full range of human motion and as a result, can cause injury to the feet and other parts of the body.

As we have stated before, the entire body is connected, which means that a deficiency or injury in one part of the body can affect a totally different part of the body. For runners and athletes, foot imbalances can easily impact the knees, hip, and back simply because their feet are not aligned when they run, race, or practice. Without running shoe insoles to accommodate the foot imbalance, this can cause indirect and unnecessary trauma on your body.

Footstar Orthotics is able to prevent these injuries while at the same time, improving your overall performance on the field. Although running shoes are advertised as necessary equipment for running, the majority of them are actually not designed to properly provide the backing required for pain-free running. Runners require heel and arch support that is custom-fitted for their feet and provide adequate shock absorption.

Sports orthotics can especially benefit football and rugby players, who require tight-fitting shoes to perform on the field. Ill-fitted shoes are another common cause of injury among athletes. They frequently will increase strain on the muscles and as a result, cause future pain. Instead, it is better to find the right type of shoes that fit with custom insoles to provide extra support.

Skiers, snowboarders, and athletes who participate in extreme weather conditions can appreciate that Footstar Orthotics running insoles are washable and waterproof, as well as incredibly durable. This means you can stay on the field outdoors all day and never have to worry about sweat, dirt, mud, or water.

Footstar even has custom dance shoe orthotics with Velcro tabs, so whether you dance for ballet, jazz, Salsa, or ballroom, your insoles will feel incredibly comfortable while preventing your feet from slipping on the floor. Best of all, sports orthotics and custom insoles for athletes will actually improve performance everywhere by correcting foot imbalances and providing greater support for a wider range of movements. This means that runners who use running shoe insoles are less likely to be injured and are more capable of sustaining long periods of training. Athletes that use running insoles are also able to make more natural movements.

A great example of this is the U.S. Olympic bobsled team. Footstar Orthotics was happy and incredibly proud to offer custom insoles to their team. To make every single second count, their insoles were able to help them make the initial push-off, and it made all the difference!

If you are seeking extra support as a runner or athlete, Footstar Orthotics is there is provide outstanding athletic orthotics that can provide a wide range of benefits to their users. Quality performance orthotics can help prevent injury, improve athletic performance, and provide critical support when it is needed most.

Do not wait until an injury has taken you off of the playing field. Start using sports orthotics and feel the difference now. You can also start by giving us a call at 1-800-318-0007.