Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between your custom insoles and orthotics?
Custom insoles are moulded directly to your feet while-you-wait and are engineered to be sports-specific using special materials for cushioning, propulsion and support. Once moulded, they are light and flexible and cushion, support and guide your feet dynamically. Custom insoles offer a much higher level of support than a manufacturer's insole (replacing them) and are not designed to be medical podiatry orthotics.*

Orthotics are made by a podiatrist who takes non-weight-bearing plaster cast moulds of the feet in a 'neutral' foot position. The casts are then sent off to a lab where the orthotic device is made often using rigid materials and additional 'posts' are added to correct the alignment of the joints. An orthotic is designed to control a foot that suffers major patho-mechanical dysfunction.
*Orthotics are generally rigid devices designed to block foot motion.

What is pronation and supination?
Pronation is the natural rolling-in motion of the foot. Supination is the natural rolling-out motion of the foot. Their function aids natural shock absorption, balance, co-ordination and propulsion of the body. From foot contact to toe-off the feet display differing degrees of pronation to supination along the length of the feet. Too much of either can cause discomfort and possibly injury in the knees, hip and back. The combination of correct footwear and custom insole will give the optimum balance between pronation and supination, supporting the body comfortably and efficiently.

Should I know if I pronate or supinate?
It is essential you know what type of foot motion you have so that the correct shoe can be selected to offer your feet the optimum level of support and cushioning where needed. Most feet pronate or supinate to a certain degree, but the trick is to know where your feet pronate or supinate along the length of the foot. Profeet's foot pressure mapping system reveals vital information that cuts out the guess work.

Is pronation a bad thing?
Pronation is a good thing which we need to help us balance and move effectively. The foot normally pronates during mid-stance (foot is on the ground) as is vital to natural foot function. It's when we pronate excessively that problems can occur in the rest of the body especially the knees and lower back. Anti-pronation shoes can sometimes over correct the foot creating other problems that normally wouldn't arise.

Do I have flat feet, or are they pronated?
Most people assume that flat feet are the same as pronated feet but there is a big difference. A person with flat feet has a very low arch yet their joint alignment is good, a person with pronating feet has poor alignment due to a collapsing arch accompanied by internal rotation of the ankle joint. Make sure you know which you are before buying an anti-pronation shoe!

I have high arches so do I supinate?
The big misnomer is that high arched feet are supinating feet and to a certain extent it is true, but foot motion (i.e. supination) is largely independent of arch height. It is common to have a high arched foot that pronates or where the arch collapses as weight is transferred through the feet.

My arches are collapsed should I be in motion control shoes?
Most arches collapse downwards while standing but your feet function completely differently when running around. Chances are that you may suit a less aggressive anti-pronation shoe, especially if you are fitted with custom insoles.

I pronate and wear good stability (motion control) shoes but my knees still hurt. Why?
Often pronation and sore knees go hand-in-hand. As the arch collapses excessively (pronation), weight passes through the foot and consequently the knee tracks towards the inside. This process places the knee joint under tension which often results in pain. Often 'motion control' shoes don't offer support to the right part of the foot or simply not enough support. The foot remains free to pronate within the shoe therefore still affecting the knee. Custom insoles have the key role of guiding the foot and allowing an optimum level of arch collapse which in turn helps protect the knees. Also heavily pronating feet are often poor at absorbing shock and the impact is felt at the knees. Solid anti-pronation devices can exacerbate the problem as they offer little in the way of cushioning.

You have a large range of neutral shoes - why?
The majority of our range consists of neutral shoes since the custom insole is the primary 'motion control' device. Sometimes we use mild anti-pronation or anti-supination shoes to offer additional support where required. During the analysis it is noted that some feet supinate dynamically, but exhibit pronation statically - completely the opposite. Shoes should only be fitted to a foot once the dynamic situation is understood. Too many anti-pronation shoes are sold to runners who don't need them or the support is not in the right area of the foot. This can have implications for comfort, performance and ultimately cause injury.

How does taking a video of me running help with selecting shoes for me?
After we have taken a video image of you running both barefoot and then with your existing shoes, we compare both videos simultaneously, frame-by-frame, using advanced motion analysis software. Using this technology we can see whether your shoes have been causing problems or not. Once we have completed the 3D Fit System we then take another video clip and do a further before-and-after comparison to ensure your new shoes and insoles are functioning perfectly. Visual observation of the way you are running can be inaccurate and deceptive.

I always seem to be suffering from a bad back?
A painful back can be the result of numerous causes ranging from structural, biomechanical, or muscular to neurological reasons; however a key contributing factor to back pain can be related to your feet. Since your feet bear the majority of the load from the ground to the body, a foot that doesn't offer the body good support, guidance, cushioning and propulsion means that the load is then directed to the knees and the lower back region. The primary suspension systems for the body are the feet and lower back and if you have very high arched feet that are rigid, the shock passes through the feet into the back causing adverse compression and therefore pain. Simply buying cushioned shoes is not enough. Your feet need to be better supported and foot pressure distributed more evenly so the feet can function more effectively as the primary shock absorber, relieving the lower spine some of the load.**
**at profeet we work very closely with medical professionals and will advise you on the best course of action to take depending on what treatment would be most suitable
your needs.

I have high arches and have a sore back is there a link?
Yes, high arched feet that are rigid are very poor shock absorbers so the majority of the load passes through the lower body and ends up at the lower spine overloading that area thus creating pain and discomfort.

Why do you measure the pressure under my feet?
Each foot is unique so by measuring the pressure under the soles of your feet we can determine certain key elements of the way in which your feet function such as; in high pressure areas, how the feet move as weight passes through them (ratio of pronation/supination) and what sort of characteristics they have (high arched etc). This gives us key information for moulding the custom insoles and also allows us to select the best shoe for your individual foot.

Is the shape of the shoe important?
The shape of the shoes is really important. If you have a wide, high volume foot and you jam it into a narrow shoe it won't be long before your feet fatigue and fall off! The blood flow and nutrients used as fuel will be restricted and the by-product or used fuel can't be taken away - not ideal! If you have a narrow heel it is important to get a shoe that cups the back of the foot effectively or else you will over-tighten the laces to hold the heel from slipping and compress the foot. It's the same if you have a wide heel in a narrow laced shoe, the blood flow to the heel and feet is restricted which will make your feet ache.

Why do I get blisters?
Blisters arise from frictional forces when surfaces shear against each other such as the surface of your skin, socks and the internal wall of the shoes. Excessive motion of your feet inside the shoes will cause blisters especially if your shoes are the wrong shape, profile and volume. Often a foot that rolls over the forefoot and/or is hyper-mobile will result in blister down the front and side of the arch.

How come my feet ache after only a few miles?
The main reasons for aching feet are poor blood circulation, uneven loading of the foot and poor fitting shoes.

Do my feet affect my knees and is that why my knees hurt when I run?
Absolutely! The excessive range of pronation and supination of your feet can influence the tracking of the knee which can translate into knee pain.

Will custom insoles help with sore knees and back?
They will certainly help and often cure these problems, but invariably the assistance of a sport physiotherapist will be necessary. A custom insole that is fitted into the correct footwear will help guide the feet in a more efficient way helping to relieve the knee and back of additional tension and pressure.

Is cushioning good for me?
Cushioning is good for you if you need it! A heavy runner, with an unstable pronating foot running on a cushion shoes can exaggerate the instability of the foot which can lead to pain of injury. If a 'cushioning shoe' over-compresses this can stress the muscles and tendons out and cause them to over contract and fatigue quickly. Sore shins and tight calf muscle reflect an over cushioned shoe.

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