Can we talk orthotics please?

[CleanQueen123]

A delightful topic I know, but I've been told I need orthotics but I'm worried that means I'll need to wear the same pair of shoes forever.

I appreciate that's vain. I work in professional office job so whilst I can get away with wearing smart trainers I'm not going to be able to wear gym style trainers and I certainly hadn't planned on only ever wearing one pair of shoes.

Is it possible to swap the orthotics to whichever shoes you're wearing or are they fitted to the shoe as well as the foot?

The cost is quite high for my level of income and it doesn't seem like it will be good value for money if I'm only wearing them on WFH days and weekends.

They are not fitted to your shoe. What they can fit in might depend a bit on the exact shape, but I shove mine in anything. Not sandals. I try and not walk too far in my sandals.

Thank you. Yes, fully appreciate that sandals and ballet pump type shoes aren't going to be suitable. If I'm honest I tend not to wear that type of shoe often anyway because they totally unsupportive, and as you say, if I do I'm not walking far in them.

It was more knowing that I'd be able to wear other types of trainer, shoes, boots etc and not be tied to wearing whichever pair of shoes they're fitted to.

Get more than one pair of decent, lace-up shoes and more than one set of orthotics.

You'll probably need to get the shoes a size larger to accommodate the orthotics, and then swap them out in the event that you want to wear something different.

The NHS does allow for people to purchase additional sets if you ask - I get roughly a pair a year via Rheumatology referral and then could order privately from the same company so they'd use my mould; not cheap, but definitely cheaper than having to buy all of them and it's worth it to not be in pain.

If you can't afford that, you get the larger size shoes and swap the orthotics out everytime.

I have custom orthotics that I really need to wear all the time (if I want to be able to walk comfortably!). I look for shoes that have removable insoles, although depending on the depth of your orthotics you might be able to get away with it. Mine fit pretty easily inside most shoes that have removable insoles, and they're fairly bulky.

What kind of shoes do you generally like to wear? I have the added complication of wide feet, but tend to get shoes from:
Clarks
Skechers (if you don't have wide feet, most trainers will probably work, but Skechers is best for wide fitting)
Doc Martens (less luck in recent years though)
Rogerson Shoes (great website for filtering by removable insoles, with lots of brands)
Wolky (pricey but so worth it IMO, especially the sandals)

I know some people love Hotter, but they don't suit my foot shape at all (narrow ankle, wide toe area, high arch - fairly weird TBH!).

I have two sets of orthotics that move between shoes.

It's a private physio (funded through work) that's recommended it rather than being via NHS referral so I assume I'd need to see a private podiatrist and pay full price for them.

I can just see the cost stacking up which is why I haven't gone down this route before 😔

"Cheap" is the answer to the kind of shoes I like to wear! Which I suspect isn't going to be possible anymore if I need orthotics.

They’re an insole that has an arch support built on it.

However they’re a pain in the arse in my opinion as 90% of shoes don't cater for an orthotic, they make the depth of the shoe too shallow.

When dd had them, we used to be in the shoe shop for over 1.5 hours whilst the fitter tried to get shoes to cater for them, eventually leaving whilst one pair in the whole store fitted ☹️

dd used to get upset about the whole shoe buying process, after 2 years we stopped using them and she switched to barefoot shoes to try to strength the arch and foot instead of using an orthotic.

She hasnt had any issues with her feet and hasnt had them for around 2 years or so.

i would look at alternatives before i resorted to orthotics.

The NHS have also cut back on the prescription of orthotics and now only prescribe them for children in severe cases (i went private with dd) as research has shown that orthotics can do more harm than good.

Many physios etc now see them as outdated and encourage foot strengthening exercises to resolve pain issues.

This is my worry. I bought some Amazon orthotics to see if it made a difference and the thing I immediately noticed is my heels slipping out of my trainers because they're now too shallow.

I don't relish the idea of needing to chuck out all my shoes and be limited to whatever will fit the orthotics rather than ones I actually like or are appropriate for the outfit/occasion.

Whats the problem with your feet?

why has the physio recommended orthotics?

I have flat feet and actually the problem I went to see them for are my knees and hips/back but they said those issues won't be helped by the feet, so recommended orthotics as well as the exercises they've given me.

"Cheap" is the answer to the kind of shoes I like to wear! Which I suspect isn't going to be possible anymore if I need orthotics.

Cheap shoes are generally not supportive, or comfortable, or well made. Some people don't invest in their feet until they develop a problem, which is something I don't understand as our feet are incredibly hard working and they deserve to be well looked after.

If you invest in decent footwear, you may not need orthotics.

I don't disagree with you but with a limited income it's not always possible to avoid needing to buy cheap shoes

I have flat feet, as does dd but barefoot shoes have really helped, as has exercises.

flat feet are because the muscles in the feet are weak, i ve known several people who had flat feet and now have an arch due to exercises and barefoot shoes.

Are you barefoot at home? If not, switch to a no shoe or slipper policy in the house, make your feet work at supporting themselves.

Thank you. In the winter I wear slippers but otherwise barefoot at home. On WFH days I use a standing desk so my feet will certainly have to work. I'll look up exercises too.

I have orthotics from a podiatrist but I only wear them in my trainers as that is mainly what I wear, including at work when I can be on my feet a lot.
I try to now buy footwear that's supportive or has space for the insoles. I have sandals from Hotter that are supportive. I have a few pairs of cheap pumps and heels that I wear if I'm dressed up but I know I'll be mostly sitting down/ not walking far. But my feet and legs often ache the next day. The podiatrist recommended proper Crocs to wear in the house.

Have a look at Vionic shoes and Shuropody. They're well made (and expensive, sorry) but there is a sale on Vionic just now. They either have a removable foot bed or good arch support. Could you look at buying a pair or 2 to give you more options with outfits/work to help your feet?

(I had to chuck all my shoes after having kids as my feet went up 1 size and became wide, I now have limited options and have chosen to buy outfits depending on the shoes I own 😭).

Thank you. I'll take a look.

I know it sounds horrifically vain but the idea of needing to chuck all my shoes and likely replace a lot of my wardrobe to suit a limited selection of shoes makes me want to cry 😢

Get rid of the slippers, my children used to ask me for slippers but i wouldnt buy them as having shoes on affects foot strength and development.

i used to buy them those fluffy bed socks instead.

Regarding the standing desk, are your feet stood in one position, or is it because you have one of those walking pads underneath it? If they’re stood in one position, i would actually sit down and whilst working i would do the foot strengthening exercises as much as possible.

Standing in one position for long periods of time are not good for your back and knees, unless your actually walking underneath the standing desk.

Not always only for children. I got my orthotics prescribed on the NHS almost a year ago and wore them in the same pair of boots all winter.
For the summer my NHS podiatrist recommended Fit flop sandals and they've been ace.

Also carrying any excess weight causes feet to collapse at the arch.

I wear orthotics and swap them between shoes. I'd say 50% of the shoes I try are ok with orthotics. I buy Strive sandals which have a firm inbuilt arch support, or Birkenstocks. Most walking sandals do not have a firm enough support for me whatever they say, but I hit on the perfect solution of buying stick on arch supports from Talar Made, which is the same place I get my orthotics.
I haven't had a bad back since wearing them, and if ever I'm tempted not to wear them I remember the time I thought I'd be ok walking round Granada without them, then spent the rest of my holiday hobbling in pain

Plenty of bed socks so I'll switch to those. I think the slippers are ready for the bin anyway.

I have a walking pad but annoyingly I can't fit it under my desk and there's no way of moving the room around to make it fit.

I do find my legs are aching after a while of standing so clearly something isn't functioning in the way it should.

I'm not massively overweight, but that is also something I'm looking at.

For every pound you lose, its the equivalent of 4lb of weight off your knees and feet.

i had some knee issues within the last year and have lost 2 stone, and although they haven't gone completely, they’re much much better