INSOLESWhat is the difference between an insole and an orthotic? In general terms an orthotic is a device that is inserted into your shoes to cushion your gait, support your feet, and in many instances change the way your foot functions during the gait cycle. This combination can go a long way in making for a comfortable day in terms of walking and prolonged standing. An insole, at least for the sake of this discussion, is a device that fits into a shoe basically to cushion your gait and for many that is all that is needed to make the patient comfortable. A perfect example of an innersole is the removable device that comes with many brands of athletic shoes and nowadays are also seen in many types of shoes, particularly casual shoes......they just make walking more comfortable. Unfortunately, in most cases they tend to wear out before the shoe or sneaker does and many people find their shoes or sneakers are not as comfortable as they once were even though the shoe or sneaker itself is not worn out. So rather than have to go out and buy a brand new pair of shoes or sneakers it is just easier (and less expensive) to replace the innersoles. What about those of you who spend a lot of time on your feet and find that some shoes are more comfortable than others and for that reason you avoid wearing certain shoes in your closet. Did you ever consider adding an innersole to those shoes? In a lot of instances that can be the difference between comfort and pain. Innersoles (insoles) are particularly well suited for those that have sensitive feet which in many cases is either the result of not having much fat on the bottom of the foot, or the loss of fat from the aging process. (yes, the one part of the body where we should be fat is the bottom of the foot, but the one part of the body where many of us lose fat as we age is also the bottom of the foot) A good insole can go a long way in making up for the loss of cushioning that are feet have undergone. Diabetics and people with poor circulation also do well with insoles in their shoes as they make for a more comfortable gait and help protect the bottom of the feet; a very important part of overall care of the feet in these individuals.
In addition they can be trimmed if they do not quite "fit" your shoes. The bottom part of the insole has pre-drawn lines making trimming of the device a snap. (green arrow) These insoles can be ordered with arch boosters for those who feel they need a bit more support. Please do not order these insoles with metatarsal pads because I have found due to the cushioning material on top of the insole, the adhesive of the metatarsal pads do not stay on very well. The price for these insoles is $17.00 per pair plus S+H
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