Custom Fit Footwear

allifantastical

Hi Guys!

I've done the 30DS and yesterday I took an hour long step class and usually by the end of my workouts my feet ache so bad an cramp up due to me carrying my weight on the outside of my feet.

I have heard of people getting custom fit shoes and it does wonders for them. Just wondering if anyone on here has done that and had any success or is it not worth it.

jzammetti

I began running in my old sneakers...I had serious problems with blisters and pain in my feet and knees. When I got fitted for proper running shoes I was a bit shocked over the price...but had decided I just had to buy the correct tools for my chosen exercise. From the very first day wearing them, no more sore anything and no blisters!

I highly recommend it.

allifantastical

Do you mind me asking ballpark, how much they were? I heard someone say about $120 which isn't much more than a pair of Nikes, but I haven't actually priced any out myself.

bombedpop

go to the podiatrist and they will make you custom inserts to correct over/under pronation, which it sounds like you have. I under pronate and my inserts have saved my knees/back. The insert would be all that is needed to correct, not custom shoes. It helps to get shoes designed for the issue, but not necessary with an insert. I have Saucony sneakers designed to help with under pronating, but still need an insert.

See here for examples: http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-240-319-327-7727-0,00.html
this is an issue that can cause problems with a ton of activity, not just running.

allifantastical

Thank you!!!

SToast

I got vibram five fingers. Sounds crazy because they have no support. BUT I had to focus and learn to balance my weight. Our feet are just like any other muscle group in our body. The less they are used the more they atrophy and become week. I stood really heavy on my heels all time and walked a little duck footed (toes turned out slightly). I started working out, walking, running barefoot or in my five fingers. I learned to lead with my toe only touching my heel to the ground rather than walking/running with heel strikes. The difference was amazing. No more aching sore heels or lower back. I also do not walk duck footed in them. Leading with my toe keeps my knees straight. It took some thinking at first to get it right but now that my body and feet just do it naturally. It was kinda like learning to walk again but the results (for me) are amazing.

bombedpop

I got vibram five fingers. Sounds crazy because they have no support. BUT I had to focus and learn to balance my weight. Our feet are just like any other muscle group in our body. The less they are used the more they atrophy and become week. I stood really heavy on my heels all time and walked a little duck footed (toes turned out slightly). I started working out, walking, running barefoot or in my five fingers. I learned to lead with my toe only touching my heel to the ground rather than walking/running with heel strikes. The difference was amazing. No more aching sore heels or lower back. I also do not walk duck footed in them. Leading with my toe keeps my knees straight. It took some thinking at first to get it right but now that my body and feet just do it naturally. It was kinda like learning to walk again but the results (for me) are amazing.

Eh, ankle weight and balance exercises can help, but pronation can be more anatomical more than anything else - it has to do with they way the bone meets the joint. I was born a pronator and had custom shoes to "correct" as a toddler, but it did not fully correct the issue, just stopped it from getting worse.

Like I said, custom orthotic inserts from a podiatrist can be of great assistance and can help protect against injuries not limited to knee and back problems, or worse, sprains. I've sprained my foot/ankle too many times to count, and blew out my knee twice prior to getting all my shoes in line, including my gym shoes. And I work out 6 days a week, it is not from lack of use.

OP, I'd start with a visit to either a sports medicine doctor or a podiatrist to see if they can identify the issue before you start tossing money off on shoes that claim to fix the problem.

drgndancer

Depending on the severity of the problem, even custom orthotics might be overkill. Lots of sports shoes are designed to support over/under-pronation. I'm not sure what's available for cross trainers, but every major running shoe manufacturer makes shoes intended to correct for these specific issues. For a runner I'd recommend just talking to a local specialty running store, but since your probably need cross trainers, you might want to call ahead and see what they have. Or talk to a specialty athletic shoe store (Foot Locker or similar).