Should I wear insoles with foot or ankle pain?

We come across a lot of foot and ankle pain patients who generally either are already wearing insoles or are considering them as part of their pain management process.

Many of us may come across some kind of foot or ankle pain at some point in life - especially when running or taking up a new kind of sport, a lot of the time insoles get recommended as a way to manage the pain. But are they any good?

The best way to imagine the mechanics of a foot is to compare it to a spring loaded mechanism. There are three parts of the foot that work together when walking or running, and the bones within the foot set together to allow the foot to have a lot of flexibility and spring and rebound well. What can happen due to poor gait mechanics or footwear, is an overtightening of the tibialis posterior muscle (the muscles that runs up the back and side of your lower leg). This then pulls on your navicular (a small bone in your foot) causing it to rotate and collapse inwards. This then can cause flat footedness and ankle or foot pain can then start to follow.

The idea of an insole is to ‘prop up’ the foot in the middle (the medial arch) to give it it’s supportive arch that the foot needs to provide that spring. This is why insoles can be so effective and can be really useful for patients that don’t run or walk large amounts, however for people who are training or running regularly they can sometimes be problematic. The biggest thing is they don’t provide the spring the foot naturally would give - which can lead to problems in the knees, hips and/or low back. They are also still running with an overly tight muscle and dysfunctional foot.

This is where chiropractic and massage can take over and help where insoles can’t - chiropractic care focuses on adjusting and mobilising the joints in the foot so they are able to move more freely, we can also stretch and release the tight muscle and give specific rehabilitating exercises to strengthen up the intrinsic foot muscles (basically our own inbuilt insole). Massage will then work on the scar tissue that has built up in the tendons and muscles that go down through the ankle and into the foot, further assisting with healing.

So if you are a runner or have a goal you’re aiming for but foot/ankle pain is getting in the way, it may be time to see a chiropractor. We are always happy to help you and love helping people reach their goals! To book in please call 01202 604707 or email admin@wimbornewellnesscentre.co.uk.