Orthotics and fell shoes

I wear orthotics religioulsy since getting them about 3-4 years back. Really helps me in all formats of running, only problem is an overdependence on them (my current ones are so thick, they don't fit into spikes, which is a problem with spikes during x-country season, but seem to fit Ok into my fell shoes). I need to get them re-casted every 6-9 months though even though my current ones are carbon-fibre, they bend over time and loose effectiveness. they cost about £150, (and then about £20 for re-casting)but well worth it; I've used the foam type ones before and been useless after 2-3 months. I guess It depends on your problem and running style which type of orthotic is most effective. .

This is a resonably incouraging thread to find considering whats happened to me these last couple of weeks. ive been having real problems walking never mind running - particulary in low profile shoes/sandles and bearfoot round the house! I can run in shoes with more support than fell - but last Sunday I ran the Broomhead chase in my NB fells and had the most painfull and slow (even for me) run ever. :mad:
My GP has diagnosed collasped arches and has suggested shoe inserts - for which I assume he meant orthotics.

Ive done nothing yet as im waiting to see a podiatrist to get more info on all of this (The Barn - Sheffield - anyone been?)

Ive not run at all this week - and im worried about what all this means for my non too illustrious, but nevertheless important to me, fell running future.

Im to take my running kit with me tomorrow as im to go on a treadmill. the other side to this - speaking as a woman - is that I now dont seem to be able to wear any flat sandles/flipflops any more - and I live in these during the summer. The only shoes that are comfortable are my boots with heels on that I wear to work. Even my trusted walking sandles - the other mainstay of my summer - arnt great.

Does this mean i have to radically re-think my whole shoe wardrobe? :confused:

Any advice, encouragment will be greatfully recieved - im particualry worried about being able to still do any distance on the fells again.

That doesn't sound good piglet :thunbdown:

We are all too individual in the foot department to generalise, but I will tell you what I have found. I went through a phase where I only had orthotics in my running shoes and found my knees to be achey quite a lot of the time. Now I wear them in my shoes for running, in my walking boots and in my trainers which I wear for work - so most of the time.

In summer, I wear sandels etc obviously without orthotics, and don't suffer too much. If I am walking around all day without my orthotics I do start to get achey knees again, but s long as I stick to orthotics the next day then usually it's ok.... I also where stupid killer heels for nights out, and don't really suffer :o

In a nutshell if I use my orthotics *most* of the time while I am out and about or doing lots of walking, then it's ok. I recover from days of not using them quickly as long as its not all day every day. Hopefully you will find similar and not have to ditch the shoes wardrobe! (Horrific thought!!)

Oh and as for distance on the fells, I can't really comment as I am crap at running anyway, but I found orthotics to be an overnight cure, and went from not being able to run 1/2 a mile without being in agony, to being fine straight away :)

Thanks OH

My problem is feet, not knees - if I walk in flat shoes all the pain is centered in my toes which apparenty is to do with the collaspe of the muscle underneath the foot and were it attaches itself to the toes - the best I can discribe it is that its a "cracking" feeling (cracking - not crackin!!!)

If I could run in high heels :rolleyes: I would be fine as all the weight is distributed through the heel and not the balls of the feet.

I,ll be clearer on it all (I hope) tomorrow - I hope orthotics prove to be an overnight cure - Mr Bgsec seems to get on OK and Im no way up to doing the distance he does. I just want to be able to still do what I enjoy - my longest things being the skyline and tankys probably - although I had a plan to go and run the PPP (not the race - just the PPP)

Ive got a horrible feeling though that im going to have to ditch the flat sandles and opt for things with more support :mad:

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Originally Posted by piglet

Thanks OH

My problem is feet, not knees - if I walk in flat shoes all the pain is centered in my toes which apparenty is to do with the collaspe of the muscle underneath the foot and were it attaches itself to the toes - the best I can discribe it is that its a "cracking" feeling (cracking - not crackin!!!)

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OOooo I have a funny feeling in my feet now :o

I hope you get on ok with them, I think they will certainly do wonders for running - it sounds like your feet are quite severe. (Mine are flat so as I walk run, they roll inwards which causes the unnatural twist in my knees).

Shame about the summer shoes though :thunbdown: Maybe you could glue the orthotics onto your feet and still wear them :confused::o

Well it looks like ive joined the sulbrious PF club and im throughly fed up.:angry: If id bothered to read the old threads I would have picked up on it as its blindingly obvious from whats been happening. However I do have an "unusual presentation" in that its not affecting the heel - its my toes.

Ive now read all the old threads on here about it - bought some "off the shelf" orthotics and booked a physio appointment.

Hooray hooray happy days :boohoo:

Orthotics work better if you wear them every day, they are a medical item after all. If you think you need orthotics go and see a professional, an Orthotist is best, either NHS or private. Orthotists are qualified to identify your problem, be it in the foot, ankle, knee or even the spine. Make sure he/she is registered with HPC if you are 'going private'.

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Originally Posted by piglet

Does this mean i have to radically re-think my whole shoe wardrobe? :confused:

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I now buy running shoes based on their ability to take an Orthotic, not on their suitability for the task.

Is an orthotist the same as a podiatrist? I googled orthotists in Sheffield and got the same guy up I went to see last week. Yes im wearing the inserts in all shoes now. (sandles are a no-go area)
The podiastrist fella suggested I have a pair of custom made inserts as I over pronate by 20% apparantly - which probably has caused all this. These are expensive - even though I can claim some back through westfield.

Mr B - I wondered about running shoes that are more suitable - but how do you get on with fell shoes?

Hi, I suffer from terrible arch pain in my feet so I went to see a physio and they recommended orthotics for me. They gave me a leaflet for a company called dr foot and it also had a 10% discount code included which is flyz10. The physio recommended that I buy the dr foot sports insoles and I have to say that they do actually work. The arch support on these insoles are very firm and they help ease the pain on my arches which is great as I am now able to run pain free. Its definetly made a huge difference for me and I highly recommend the dr foot sports insoles for running.

www.drfoot.co.uk
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