Orthopedic insoles
When placed in low-heeled shoes, they act as a kind of corset for the foot and are selected individually for the patient, in consultation with a surgeon. The choice of size and shape depends on weight, anatomical features, and degree of disease.
Products are made from felt, silicone, special gel or other materials. In the area of the foot they are made soft to create a spring effect, in which ligaments and muscles are included in the work, stimulating blood circulation while walking. The cost varies from 700 to 1500 rubles.
How to choose shoes that are safe for health?
The structure of the musculoskeletal system ensures uniform distribution of body weight along the axis of the body and over the entire area of the foot. One of the most important functions in weight distribution is related to the unique anatomy of the foot. It has a complex structure - it has 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 ligaments and tendons are responsible for its work and stability.
Shoes can greatly influence body weight distribution and can be both beneficial and detrimental. In this regard, high-heeled shoes (stiletto heels) and shoes with flat soles raise the most questions.
Of course, the foot is most susceptible to the negative influence of “wrong” shoes, because it does a lot of work to maintain the weight and balance of the body when you stand, walk, run, jump, squat, etc. But the wrong shoes can disrupt the load and for the entire musculoskeletal system. When explaining this phenomenon to patients, I usually give an example of an analogy with a house on stilts: if the angle of the stilt changes, the entire house can warp.
High-heeled shoes lead to excessive stress on the anterior parts of the knee joint, which can cause pain under the patellas (patellofemoral pain syndrome) or cause various diseases of the knee joints associated with pathological stress. High heels cause excessive hip flexion when walking, which increases the risk of developing hip arthrosis as you age. The anterior shift of body weight also leads to some overextension of the lumbar spine, which increases the load on the muscles of the lower back, causing pain in this area and (possibly in the future) progression of “osteochondrosis”.
Shoes with flat soles sharply reduce the ability to unload the arches of the feet, causing them to “sag” under the weight of the body. This leads to a decrease in the shock-absorbing capabilities of the foot, stretching occurs, and great tension on the muscles and fascia of the arch of the foot, which can cause the development of inflammation of the plantar fascia - the so-called plantar fasciitis (better known as a “heel spur”). The Achilles tendons, posterior parts of the ankle joint, calf muscles, muscles of the back of the thigh, and lumbar spine may become inflamed. And of course, this can intensify persistent irregularities in the shape of the foot in the form of an increase in various types of flat feet.
— Is it true that walking in heels is harmful? Why? How many hours a day can you spend in stiletto heels?
— There is no clear criterion, but it is important to know that high-heeled shoes are, in principle, harmful. No matter how beautiful high heels are, they are not suitable for walking or working in an office all day. Yes, it's impressive, but it's not safe. However, ladies who wear stiletto heels are unlikely to notice this right away. After all, many harmful factors can be compensated for over a long time. But gradually, as fatigue increases and compensatory mechanisms decrease, problems can become noticeable and sometimes worsen.
The main reason is that high heels transfer body weight forward to the balls of the toes, which greatly increases the pressure on the muscles and joints of the forefoot. This can cause pain in the feet and lead to changes in their structure such as transverse flatfoot (flattening of the transverse arch of the foot). The consequence of these processes are diseases such as chronic pain syndrome (metatarsalgia), valgus deformity of 1 toe (so-called “bumps”), hammertoe deformity, Morton's neuromas, etc. The higher the heel, the longer the foot is in the wrong position , the greater the likelihood of such changes. Of course, this does not appear immediately, but with age, the ligaments and tendons weaken a little and without additional factors, gravity and body weight change the shape of the foot, the arches gradually “sag,” the feet become wider and “stretch out.” Significant weight fluctuations, such as weight gain during pregnancy, can even increase your foot and therefore shoe size.
— What heel height is safe? What should those who must wear high heels at work do?
— There are many opinions on this matter. The simplest thing is to wear shoes that are comfortable. The safest heels are from 4 to 6 cm, depending on height or leg length. I also came across more accurate calculations of the optimal heel height using the formulas: foot length (in cm) : 7 (for example, 26 cm : 7 = 3.7 cm) or (height (in cm) : leg length (in cm) – 1.61 )*10 (for example (170 cm : 80 cm – 1.61)*10 = 5.15 cm).
But even the optimal heel length increases the load on the forefoot from approximately 22 to 57%, while for some reason many women are more comfortable this way, which has to be admitted, but is difficult for a man, even an orthopedic traumatologist, to understand.
— There is an opinion that flat-soled sneakers are also harmful. Is it so?
— Yes, and not only sneakers. A flat sole provokes the development of flat feet and other diseases such as heel spurs. In addition to the flat sole, some models of sneakers also have a very thin sole, which does not have sufficient shock-absorbing properties; not only the feet, but also the knees can suffer from this.
— What about ballet flats, slates?
- The same as with sneakers, especially if we are talking not about soft, but about leather shoes. Such shoes do not unload the foot and do not have sufficient shock absorption. My opinion is that you need to buy anatomical shoes.
—Then the narrow toes of the shoes are abolished?
- This is a difficult question. Narrow toes can be an extension of a regular shoe last (for example, cowboy boots or Arab shoes), or they can be really narrow shoes. This is definitely harmful because it leads to compression of the forefoot. This causes problems such as ingrown toenails, injuries and deformities of the toenails. Compression of the bones can cause pain in the foot and the development of Morton's neuromas.
— Do I need to choose shoes with arch support? What is its meaning?
— With age, almost everyone understands that shoes with arch support are easier, so they switch to such shoes themselves. I think everyone needs shoes with arch support. The main task of the arch support is to relieve the longitudinal arch of the foot, which reduces the likelihood of pain. It’s just that standard arch supports may not be suitable for everyone. Selecting an instep support is a very complex topic and needs to be discussed separately.
— What shoes should people with flat feet wear?
— Flat feet is a collective term. There are many different types of flat feet, and there are other features of the structure of the foot that affect the choice of shoes or insoles. Accordingly, you first need to determine the type and degree of flat feet. And this is usually done by specialists, using special devices and instruments. There is no standard answer to this question. If a person has flat feet and this causes any complaints, it is best to consult a specialist and choose shoes based on individual characteristics. At a minimum, anatomical shoes with good, albeit standard, arch supports are desirable. Such shoes can be quite elegant, but their price is higher than that of ordinary shoes.
— Everyone likes to wear different shoes, but which one is best for your health?
- Complex issue. Apparently, comfortable anatomical shoes. Personally, I like the definition: “Shoes should be appropriate for your activity.” After all, even the shape and last of sneakers differ depending on the sport...
— It seems that sneakers are the ideal shoes. Is it possible to wear them all the time?
— It’s possible, but not necessary, and you need to pay attention to foot hygiene.
— What shoe size is optimal for foot health? Exactly along the leg or a little more?
— Shoes should follow the anatomy of the foot. Therefore, shoes should not be larger or smaller than the actual size of the foot. The size of sports shoes, for example, should correspond as much as possible to the length of the athlete’s foot. These shoes are comfortable and safe.
What is it for
Surgeons who prefer laser removal of atheroma to other surgical methods adhere to conservative treatment tactics here too. Moreover, the use of orthopedic insoles and heel supports brings serious relief to patients with heel spurs:
- they fix the arches of the foot (transverse and longitudinal) in the anatomical position;
- reduce the load on the foot and lower limbs, spine;
- improve blood circulation;
- act as a powerful preventative against diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
- prevent foot fatigue.
What insoles to buy for heel spurs?
An orthopedic doctor will tell you what insoles are needed for heel spurs.
When choosing insoles yourself, you must consider the following criteria:
- the presence of flat feet, foot deformities and other pathologies;
- spur size and pain intensity;
- motor activity;
- how much your feet sweat.
If you have a heel spur, insoles, which is best decided individually, should first of all not cause discomfort and be of high quality. It is recommended to select the appropriate size for this product.
It is better to give preference to a certified product over cheap Chinese counterfeits. The consultants of the Healthy Feet online store will help you make your choice.
Subtleties of operation
Silicone heel pads are considered the most comfortable - their use is almost unlimited. In order to preserve its performance properties for as long as possible, it is necessary to wash the products daily with warm soapy water and then dry naturally without wiping. With proper care, these orthopedic devices, in addition to their therapeutic effect, also prevent unpleasant odors.
Both orthopedic insoles and universal heel supports only relieve the foot and reduce pain. It is completely impossible to cure heel spurs with their help. Surgeons use them as an addition to basic treatment.
Where to buy insoles for heel spurs?
Our online store offers you to buy insoles for heel spurs at affordable prices. We guarantee high quality products and deliver throughout Russia.
You can pick up your order at the post office or at the pick-up point, which are located in all regions of the country. For our customers, we offer profitable promotions and offers that allow them to save money and purchase only high-quality products for getting rid of and preventing spurs.
Diagnostics
After studying the medical history and the patient’s complaints, the doctor examines the foot: the presence of a high arch, the area of pain in the heel area, the presence of mobility restrictions in the foot. Instrumental research methods may be required to verify the diagnosis. Radiography provides a clear image of bone tissue. This research method makes it possible to exclude other causes of heel pain, such as a fracture or arthrosis. A heel spur is clearly visible on radiography.
MRI is a very informative research method that allows you to clearly visualize not only the bone tissues of the foot, but also soft tissues (ligaments, cartilage tissue), which is important when diagnosing damage to the plantar fascia, Achilles tendon, or damage to cartilage tissue in arthritis.
Ultrasound examination is also widely used to diagnose heel spurs and plantar fasciitis and, although the image quality is inferior to MRI, but given its complete safety, it can be used quite often, for example, to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.
