General Discussion Triathlon Talk » I had a revelation....see ya later orthotics. Rss Feed  
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2012-12-28 8:38 AM

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Subject: I had a revelation....see ya later orthotics.

Last year after suffering from constant issues with my hamstring/glut, I saw a podiatrist who is a family friend.  He had me walk across those fancy pads that generate a computer image of your strike and recommended orthotics because I put much more weight on one foot than the other, and both foot strikes looked more like a tripod made of three small dots than like a footprint.  He gave them to me for free so I went with it.  They are the medium weight, semi-flexible full insoles.  They felt odd and heavy but he said there would an acclimation period.  So I continued using them for all of 2012.  My hamstring/glut issues disappeared.

Meanwhile I started having some major kneecap issues.  Running didn't hurt per se, but my knees hurt after runs and lunges and squats became painful.  After seeing a PT and doing some research myself, I determined that I had become quad dominant, that my gluts were not activating as they should which was causing a pull on the kneecap, thus the pain.  All the while my run speed seemed to dwindle a bit and my legs just always felt tired on runs.  I figured my knees and legs in general were feeling overused (I teach a weekly class with massive amounts of plyos, lunges, etc. plus running several times a week).

Last month it was time to replace my Brooks Adrenaline's.  Unlike the current version that held my orthotic just fine, the new version had my foot feeling very overcrowded with the insert and the next size up was too big.  I got them anyway and decided to try running without the orthotic.  WOW....I felt SO fast.  It was like all that speed I felt I'd lost in the past year all came back.  It felt like shackles came off my feet.  I tried again a few days later, same experience.  I had blamed my slowness on my body being burned out but it seems the orthotics could have been to blame all along.

NOW, I wonder if these things are to blame, or at least partially to blame for my kneecap pain and issues.  Maybe the orthotic worked TOO well to take the stress off my gluts and that the reason they all of a sudden stopped firing properly.

So has anyone else had a similar experience with orthotics??



2012-12-28 8:51 AM
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Subject: RE: I had a revelation....see ya later orthotics.
I have worn orthotics since junior high school.  I can not run in them.  I wear them in my everyday shoes and that is it.  I can't imagine even trying to run in them.  Did the podiatrist only have you walk or did he have you run as well?  I know the frustrations of trying to find shoes that fit comfortably with the orthotics.
2012-12-28 9:40 AM
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Subject: RE: I had a revelation....see ya later orthotics.
noelle1230 - 2012-12-28 9:38 AM

Last month it was time to replace my Brooks Adrenaline's.  

I have orthotics and still have all sorts of trouble, but did your doc recommend running in Adrenalines with the orthotics.  I understand support/stability shoes aren't the best option with orthotics.  I switched from Adrenalines to Defyances (neutral) with mine.

 

 

 

 

2012-12-28 10:07 AM
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Subject: RE: I had a revelation....see ya later orthotics.

isyphoto - 2012-12-28 9:51 AM I have worn orthotics since junior high school.  I can not run in them.  I wear them in my everyday shoes and that is it.  I can't imagine even trying to run in them.  Did the podiatrist only have you walk or did he have you run as well?  I know the frustrations of trying to find shoes that fit comfortably with the orthotics.

He had me run also.  He actually fit them to the Brooks Adrenaline's I was using at the time and they seemed work fine fit wise.  The new version must be cut differently because the same size and width as the old shoe now feels different with the insert than the old pair did.

2012-12-28 10:10 AM
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Subject: RE: I had a revelation....see ya later orthotics.
Goosedog - 2012-12-28 10:40 AM
noelle1230 - 2012-12-28 9:38 AM

Last month it was time to replace my Brooks Adrenaline's.  

I have orthotics and still have all sorts of trouble, but did your doc recommend running in Adrenalines with the orthotics.  I understand support/stability shoes aren't the best option with orthotics.  I switched from Adrenalines to Defyances (neutral) with mine.

He did say that keeping my current shoe would be fine because I would still require pronation correction even with the orthotic.  When I found the Adrenaline didn't fit, I tried on just about every shoe made and none fit properly--I have an extremely narrow foot and need a narrow width shoe to avoid slipping so the Adrenaline has been the only shoe that works for me thus far.  Like I said, they must've changed the shape of the shoe because old Adrenaline plus orthotic fit fine; new Adrenaline plus orthotic felt overcrowded.

2012-12-28 10:15 AM
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Subject: RE: I had a revelation....see ya later orthotics.

I've had orthotics for years and found they don't fit well with certain brands of footwear. I've also found the shoe needs a few weeks of solid use with the orthotics before the they break in and feel really comfortable. Most of the time they will feel tight at first.

 Orthotics come in a variety of materials and sizes and thus different weights and stiffnesses. Do you know if you have one of the ultra light types for athletes or a heavy one?



Edited by LPJmom 2012-12-28 10:18 AM


2012-12-28 11:10 AM
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Subject: RE: I had a revelation....see ya later orthotics.
LPJmom - 2012-12-28 11:15 AM

I've had orthotics for years and found they don't fit well with certain brands of footwear. I've also found the shoe needs a few weeks of solid use with the orthotics before the they break in and feel really comfortable. Most of the time they will feel tight at first.

 Orthotics come in a variety of materials and sizes and thus different weights and stiffnesses. Do you know if you have one of the ultra light types for athletes or a heavy one?

The bigger issue I'm having beyond fit is that the first time I tried running without them in a year I felt faster than I had in....well, a year!  So my question is: has anyone experienced something similar even after giving themselves so much time to acclimate?  I.e., you never acclimated and the things actually slowed you down?  Or, even worse, have you had an orthotic trade in a small problem like a soft issue for a bigger issue like joint dysfunction?

2012-12-28 12:50 PM
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Subject: RE: I had a revelation....see ya later orthotics.
I wear them in my work dress shoes but do not wear when running.
2012-12-28 1:28 PM
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Subject: RE: I had a revelation....see ya later orthotics.
IB4shouldhaveboughtvibrams
2012-12-28 2:06 PM
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Subject: RE: I had a revelation....see ya later orthotics.

Many podiatrist make a substantial amount of money off selling orthotics.  Seems almost everyone I know who goes to a Podiatrist with issues are told they need orthotics which usually are an out of pocket expense.

Your body is used to moving a certain way for many years. Yes it may not be the best movement patterns, but change it quickly by 'correcting' movement often you get more problems adjusting to knew 'better' position.

2012-12-28 2:31 PM
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Subject: RE: I had a revelation....see ya later orthotics.

thebigb - 2012-12-28 1:28 PM IB4shouldhaveboughtvibrams
\

+1 awesome



2012-12-28 2:44 PM
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Subject: RE: I had a revelation....see ya later orthotics.
Ditching my orthotics and Birkenstock sandals was the best thing I ever did for my feet.  Originally they helped with whatever issue I was having (I forget what it was) but they just caused a cascade of other issues.  Eventually I just got rid of them and started walking around the house in barefeet and I haven't had any problems since.  
2012-12-28 2:48 PM
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Subject: RE: I had a revelation....see ya later orthotics.

axteraa - 2012-12-28 12:44 PM Ditching my orthotics and Birkenstock sandals was the best thing I ever did for my feet.  Originally they helped with whatever issue I was having (I forget what it was) but they just caused a cascade of other issues.  Eventually I just got rid of them and started walking around the house in barefeet and I haven't had any problems since.  

X2

I fought with a nasty knee problem for about a year before switching to minimalist shoes for running. Now I'm finally running pain-free for the first time in ages, and miraculously my long-time foot and ITB problems have seemed to disappear as well. Now I'm extremely uncomfortable if I try to run wearing my old, heavy trail runners.

2012-12-28 3:54 PM
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Subject: RE: I had a revelation....see ya later orthotics.

I can't imagine a doctor putting orthotics in a stability shoe like the Adrenaline and recommending that to someone.

That said, I'm no foot doctor.

but your running stride will be a lot different from your walking strike.

2012-12-28 10:13 PM
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Subject: RE: I had a revelation....see ya later orthotics.
I have very flat feet and was prescribed orthotics when it started causing problems all the way up to my hips. But, like you, I found they didn't solve my problems as much as create different problems. After a few years, I gave running without them a tentative try and felt great. I do ankle, arch, hip and foot strengthening exercises and I've found that helps more than anything. I also consciously try to hit a mid foot strike, and a strike directly underneath me, and that helps, too.
2012-12-29 7:13 AM
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Subject: RE: I had a revelation....see ya later orthotics.
When it comes to running, orthotics are just a bandaid, you're not fixing the problem. Generally, most pain comes from an issue with technique. To me, I'd rather fix the problem then find something to cover it up.I also had issues with fitting an orthotic into a running shoe. Even shoes designed to fit one, still didn't feel great. I was severally over pronating and heal striking, it was causeing a lot,of issues. I tried multiple shoes and some did help a bit. In the last few months I moved too the Merrell trail glove, much like the Vibrams.. This alone has made the biggest change cause its taught me to run properly. I have little to no pain and my pace has dropped almost 2:00 a mile


2012-12-29 8:32 AM
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Subject: RE: I had a revelation....see ya later orthotics.
SurfingLamb - 2012-12-28 4:54 PM

I can't imagine a doctor putting orthotics in a stability shoe like the Adrenaline and recommending that to someone.

That said, I'm no foot doctor.

but your running stride will be a lot different from your walking strike.

I have had two podiatrists recommend this to me.

2012-12-29 8:36 AM
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Subject: RE: I had a revelation....see ya later orthotics.
I have ditched my orthotics too since my IM in September.  I pronate really badly, but have high arches. (most people who pronate have flat feet). I have been seeing a physio for the last several months and we are working on getting me into lighter shoes and no orthotics by focusing on improving my running form, becoming a mid-foot/fore-foot running (I used to be a heal striker) and working on glute strength to solve the muscle imbalance which was causing my pronation.  Still wear my orthotics in my dress shoes (for now) and wear my birks around the house (for now).
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