The Benefits of Insoles for Skateboarders

Skateboarding is a popular and exciting sport that requires a significant amount of skill and athleticism. It is also a high-impact activity that can put a lot of stress on the feet and legs. For this reason, many skateboarders may benefit from using insoles, also known as shoe inserts. Insoles can provide additional support and cushioning, which can help to reduce the risk of injuries and improve overall comfort.

One of the main reasons skateboarders may benefit from using insoles is for arch support. Many skateboarders have different foot types and arch shapes, and insoles with built-in arch support can help distribute weight evenly across the foot, reducing strain on the heel and ball of the foot. This can help prevent common foot problems such as plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, and flat feet. Furthermore, insoles that provide arch support can also help realign the foot and leg, which can reduce the risk of lower back, knee and hip pain.

Cushioning is another important reason for skateboarders to use insoles. Skateboarding requires a lot of jumping, landing and hard impacts, which can put a lot of stress on the feet and legs, leading to fatigue, discomfort, and pain. Insoles can provide additional cushioning to the foot, helping to reduce impact and improve comfort. This can help to reduce the risk of injuries such as stress fractures and can also help to alleviate pain caused by existing foot conditions.

Shock absorption is another key reason for Skateboarders to use insoles. When skateboarding, the foot strikes the ground with significant force, which can lead to injuries if not properly absorbed. Insoles can help absorb shock, which can help reduce the risk of injuries such as stress fractures, shin splints, and heel spurs. Additionally, insoles with good shock-absorption can also help to reduce fatigue, making it easier to skateboard for longer periods of time without feeling tired.

Temperature regulation is another important aspect of insoles for skateboarders. Feet can get hot and sweaty, especially when Skateboarding in warm weather or during heavy physical activity. Some insoles are made with materials that can help regulate temperature, keeping feet cool and dry. This can help to reduce odors and prevent fungal and bacterial growth, keeping feet healthy and comfortable.

Odor control is another important benefit of insoles for Skateboarders. Feet can produce a lot of sweat, which can lead to unpleasant odors. Some insoles are treated with antimicrobial agents to help control odor. This can help to reduce the risk of fungal and bacterial growth, which can cause infections and odors.

Customization is another important aspect of insoles for Skateboarders. Every person's feet are unique, and off-the-shelf insoles may not provide the best fit. Insoles can be made to fit the specific shape and size of a person's foot, providing a more customized and comfortable fit. This can help to reduce the risk of injuries and improve overall comfort, leading to increased performance and enjoyment of the sport.

It's worth noting that insoles are not always necessary for Skateboarders, and not everyone needs them. Some Skateboarders may find that their shoes provide enough support and cushioning. However, if you experience foot pain or discomfort, have a foot condition, or engage in heavy Skateboarding activity that puts a lot of stress on your feet, it may be worth considering insoles as an option.

 

Consider Orthotics to Prevent Skaterboarding Related Injury

In conclusion, insoles can provide a range of benefits for Skateboarders, including arch support, cushioning, shock absorption, temperature regulation, odor control, and customization.  Customizeable Orthotic insoles such as SelectFlex could be your solution. SelectFlex are an entirely new type of dynamic energy returning insole that won ISHN’s award for Best Foot Protective Product of 2020.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As runners our feet are obviously incredibly important, but sometimes they just don’t get the care and attention they deserve.  We look to show a few simple ways you can look after your feet and keep them happy.
First if your feet are sore in any way, DON’T run. Check your shoes, how old are they? If they are showing signs of wear, it’s good to analyze a pair of old worn shoes as they tell you so much about your running.

General Foot Care

• Prevention is always the best course of action. Act before a problem starts to develop.
• If you have any hard skin or calluses on your feet, treat yourself to a pedicure. Blisters under hard skin can be a real hassle.
• After a muddy trail run, a nail brush can be really handy to get rid of all the mud from the feet and toes.
• Keeping the skin soft and supple can help to prevent blisters. Putting a little oil on the feet after a shower can help immensely.
• Use technical running socks that wick the moisture away and keep the feet dry. This can help guard against blisters.
• Wear supportive insoles to support your arches and provide proper alignment 

Why Insoles Can be Good for Runners?
We spend a lot of time thinking about the power in our glutes, stretching our hamstrings and working on our stride. Meanwhile our feet are slapping the ground over and over absorbing 2.5 times our body weight.  Why wouldn’t we try to give them the best support possible?
One of the most common foot issues for runners is Plantar Fasciitis, an inflammation of the ligament connecting the heel to the toes, which proper insoles can help to alleviate. 
Major Reasons to Use Insoles:

• If you’re having pain in your knees from the foot rolling in or flat arches
• If you’re building mileage and want a little extra cushion as the body adapts
• If you’re having foot pain (like a strained tendon) and this will lessen the load
• The right insole can help to distribute the load of your step more evenly
• The right insole can make running feel better, which means you’ll stick with it
• Correcting a foot imbalance will improve your alignment and posture to prevent injuries up the chain (i.e. knees, hips).
• Running with flat feet and need arch support.
• Running with high arches and need arch support.

Once you’ve traced your root issue and started to work on it, using insoles can be a great part of the process to changing your mechanics or supporting the body as you get stronger.

What are the best insoles for running?
My friends with Plantar Fasciitis will be psyched by SelectFlex designed with an adjustable arch to support the fascia and redistribute the weight away from your heel where there’s effectively dynamic support to absorb shock to the lower extremities throughout your stride in addition to a deeper “teardrop”  heel cup for better stability.

Foot Exercises
Here are some easy exercises that can help to strengthen your feet:

• Wiggling and clenching your toes. This can help to strengthen the plantar fascia (one of the main muscles which goes along the sole of the foot.)
• Try to pick up a pencil with your toes. This is fun, but can be tricky depending on the strength of your feet.
• Take your shoes and socks off and try to ‘walk’.  Walk (or move yourself forward) just by clenching and unclenching your toes. You won’t go very far or very fast, but it will strengthen your feet very nicely. You could have a very short, slow race to see who has the strongest feet!

Be sensible and don’t do too much. If you feel any pain, stop! Little and often is always best.

Shoe Fit
Make sure you have enough space in your shoes.
If you get black toenails after a long run this could be an indication that your shoes are too small. Keeping your nails nice and short can help, but you might want to try a half size larger next time.
If you get numbness or pins and needles in your feet this is often a sign your shoes are too snug. Try wearing a thinner sock, this may help, but the best solution might be larger shoes.
Always remember running shoes do not give and stretch as much as leather shoes and your feet are much more likely to expand while running.

I hope this has helped give you some ideas of how you can take care of your feet.

 

 

Hello, my name is David Herr and I’ve had a tennis racquet in my hand since I was four years old. I also played hockey and soccer as a kid and, later in life, picked up the game of golf, a sport that has some of the most unnatural body movements of any you can play. In my youth, I won the Kansas 5A State Championship and played D-1 at the University of Tulsa. Currently, I play two to three times a week on both hard and clay courts. Playing this much tennis, this often, I was really looking for tennis insoles that could provide my feet relief and improve my game.

KEEPING UP WITH THE DEMANDS

Now that I am in my 40s, I’ve started to pay more attention to my physical fitness, what my body may be trying to tell me, and I do a lot of research to find new products or advice that can help me with my conditioning. Over the past decade, tennis has evolved into a sport of high physical demand. Children and women can now serve the ball over 100 miles per hour and players hit groundstrokes with more topspin and with much greater pace. Because of these demands, I’m looking for anything that will help me keep my game at a high level even as I’m getting older.

TENNIS INJURIES ON THE RISE

Tennis is one of the few sports that people can play throughout their lives. Today, more and more seniors are active tennis players. Along with this has come an increase in lower extremity injuries. Tennis players are very similar to most weekend warriors in other sports such as running, cross-training, racquetball, and basketball. It is very difficult to slow them down even when they become injured.

Tennis involves a lot of foot work. Foot and ankle injuries occur from the continuous side-to-side and quick stopping and starting motions the sport requires. The type of playing surface is also a factor with hard courts being much less forgiving than clay courts. According to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, “overuse and excessive training can lead to heel pain, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, ankle sprains and stress fractures.” Since adding golf to my repertoire, I have suffered from lower back issues, tightness, and intermittent pain. I have used a chiropractor at times to relieve and alleviate this pain.  In the past few years I have been using a personal trainer to help strengthen my lower back muscles and glutes to provide greater support, strength and flexibility to my back and core. The American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine advises, “above all, listen to your body. Persistent minor aches and pains are not normal and will become aggravated if ignored or neglected. Proper care of the whole body, and especially the foot and ankle, will make tennis and other racquet sports a healthy part of life for people of all ages.”

PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR FEET

Recently, I’ve been paying much more attention to my feet, how they feel on the court and how they feel off the court or the next day. I had never used orthotics or shoe insoles before and always thought my foot discomfort was just a part of getting older, but figured it was worth giving them a try. So, I started trying different over the counter products that I found either on-line or at my neighborhood pharmacy. None of them seemed to make much difference and most of them didn’t hold up very well. I even tried one of those new 3D printed insoles, but they were very rigid, uncomfortable, and unforgiving on the court.

Then I came across a product called SelectFlex. Immediately after putting them in my shoes I could feel a difference. These insoles provide great arch support, and foot and ankle alignment I’d never experienced before. Without a doubt, SelectFlex has given me an edge with painless play and increased performance. The relief I now feel in my back and all down my legs is incredible. I can more aggressively push off from side to side, I feel lighter on the court and I’m getting to balls I never used to be able to get to. Today, I won’t step on the court without having them in my shoes.

I could not have found these insoles at a better time in my life, except maybe to have found them 25 years ago! I have been so impressed with them that I bought all my tennis buddies each a set for Christmas.

My advice is to listen to what your body may be trying to tell you. Don’t ignore aches and pains that never go away. And if you love the game of tennis, or any other sport for that matter, that requires a lot of movement, pay attention to your feet. They are the foundation of your entire body and they deserve proper support and alignment in order to keep you healthy and active doing the things you love most.

Don't ignore foot pain any longer. Learn more about what SelectFlex can do for your game.