HOW OFTEN SHOULD INSOLES BE REPLACED (and why own more than 1 pair)?
3 Factors that Affect Insole Replacement Like shoes, insoles have a lifespan and wear down over time, but how quickly depends on 3 primary factors:
9 REASONS TO INVEST IN TOP QUALITY
The importance of insoles lies in the support of these rehabilitative devices to flat feet. However, there is a lot more to insoles than only their supportive properties. Apart from helping to manage flat arches, insoles also add many other benefits to the health of your feet. So, if you’re looking for 9 reasons to purchase insoles, then here’s all the information you need to know.
A recent 1000 participant SurveySparrow market study measured and highlighted important benefits why people purchase top quality insoles.
The number one reason why people purchase superior insoles unsurprisingly was 1. Pain Relief and 2. More Comfort overwhelmingly 77% of the time.
As we get older, the tendons and muscles in your feet become gradually weaker and provide less support to protect your feet. Top quality insoles replace this loss of support with therapeutic benefit, resulting in more comfort.
The next reason people buy top quality insoles was for 3. Better Arch Support, 70% of the time to replace and augment the arch and foot support we lose as we get older.
Heel / Foot Ball Cushioning came in a close number 4 with 64% of respondents seeking more effective heel cradling, shock absorption for cushioning comfort.
The next significant number 5 benefit, was 57% seeking Pronation Correction or an insole’s ability to control arch deformation or an inward tilt of the arch or ankle.
A close number 6 was 48% of all respondents wanted more Supporting Alignment for their arches and feet, with number 7 wanting Improved Ankle Stability at 42%.
It is generally understood increased arch support and heel / foot ball cushioning with greater alignment and pronation correction Reduces Foot and Leg Fatigue.
The survey showed 36% of all respondents wanted the benefit of fatigue reduction at number 8 with 29% seeking to Treat Foot-Related condition with a top quality insole at number 9.
BE KIND TO YOUR FEET
Your feet carry you all through the day, which means they’re constantly helping you perform all kinds of movements whether it’s as simple as standing or as intense as sprinting.
With your feet playing such a key role in most activities, it is worth taking better care of them in order to protect them so they can continue supporting you throughout your life. Top quality insoles deliver Pain Relief and More Comfort from Better Arch Support and Heel / Foot Ball Cushioning by providing superior Pronation Correction and resultant Supporting Alignment.
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CUSTOM MEDICAL ORTHOTICS vs. OVER-THE-COUNTER (OTC) INSOLES
If you’re suffering from foot, leg or back pain, perhaps you have tried over-the-counter (OTC) retail insoles (also called prefabricated insoles) to ease your discomfort. Maybe you have even tried custom medical orthotics that were prescribed for specific ailments. In either case, both options have pros and cons which we will help explain.
The Quick Fix - OTC Insoles
If you’re in overall good health, there’s no harm in trying OTC insoles. Studies show that the nonprescription variety can be as helpful as custom versions for certain conditions (Berkeley Wellness). For instance, in a 2014 study in Musculoskeletal Care, people with plantar heel pain who wore prefabricated insoles for eight weeks had the same reductions in pain and disability as their counterparts who wore custom orthotics—at considerably lower cost. Though OTC insoles can be 1/10th the cost of custom medical orthotics ($15 - $50), there are often tradeoffs in terms of support, firmness, durability, and comfort.
OTC insoles fall into 3 categories:
- Foam insoles. When first inserted in shoes, foam insoles usually provide some level of comfort. However, due to lack of firmness, they offer minimal arch support. In addition, foam inserts tend to degrade very quickly and have a wearable life of less than 2 weeks.
- Gel insoles. Gel typically provides more support than foam but, because they offer no firmness, gel inserts are not considered a viable solution for long-term ailments.
- Rigid inserts. Rigid inserts are usually a piece of hard molded plastic placed under the heel or arch. Although they do provide support for those areas and are typically the least expensive OTC option, most people aren’t comfortable with this level of rigidity.
The Costly RX – Custom Medical Orthotics
If you have a serious foot, knee, hip, or back problem, it is well advised to see a doctor first, preferably a Podiatrist, Certified Pedorthist or Orthotist. Custom medical orthotics require a physical exam and digital foot mapping. Given this fundamental difference, custom medical orthotics can bio-mechanically correct / address the way you personally experience knee, heel or arch pain, and some lower back issues (Podiatry Today). They may also be recommended for specific biomechanics issues or health conditions.
Custom medical orthotics have the obvious benefit of being crafted to treat specific ailments for individual feet, but they also offer a longer wearable life (3-5 years is suggested) (Pain Science). However, their extended useful life is due to a higher level of rigidity than most OTC insoles. Though they may treat or provide support to specific areas of the foot, the rigidity may also cause additional discomfort and can become an issue if a foot or ailment profile has changed over time.
The biggest deterrent people face when considering custom medical orthotics is cost. Typically, they range between $400-$600, which amounts to more than 10x the cost of prefabricated insoles. Thus, if a less-costly OTC solution will ease a foot or lower body extremity ailment, most consumers are apt to go in that direction.
The Best of Both Worlds – Adjustable Arch Control Insoles
OTC insoles are accessible to everyone at retailers and pharmacies everywhere for reasonably low prices. However, they don’t always provide enough support due to the nature of the materials and one-size fits all mass manufacturing. On the other hand, custom medical orthotics may make a difference when OTC remedies fall short, but they can also be cost prohibitive as well as too rigid, causing discomfort and other issues.
Luckily, there is a new solution that provides customizable comfort, dynamic support and longer-lasting durability at near OTC prices.
SelectFlex arch control insoles are the best of both worlds. Uniquely, the patented SelectFlex PowerLIFT Arch™ (PLA) is the only insole technology that lifts the arch into correct anatomic alignment, simultaneously providing therapeutic benefits and comfort (ISHN April 2020). With the turn of a key, the SelectFlex PLA is easily customizable to 3 stiffness levels that conform to each individual’s arch and can be adjusted for either foot or type of activity. The chart below clearly illustrates the many enhanced benefits of SelectFlex in comparison to OTC retail insoles and custom medical orthotics.
The ultimate benefit of SelectFlex insoles are felt at day’s end, when dynamic alignment, arch support and energy return leave feet feeling comfortable and refreshed, even after walking miles. Studies show the SelectFlex PLA achieves 52% more arch support with each step in the gait cycle, and the PowerCup™ Heel provides 50% more ankle stability. When combined with the cushioning and moisture wicking PowerBed™, premium engineering and materials, SelectFlex insoles deliver maximum comfort and long-lasting durability at 1/4 the cost of medical orthotics.
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