These are almost as good as my $500 orthotics, just not as stiff.
These are great to have as extras for other shoes so that I don't constantly
have to be putting inserts in my shoes. I have a neuroma and these really help
These inserts
w/the metatarsal
pads are the
greatest....have
a large neuroma
which needs
surgery, but
w/these inserts
I have been able
to by-pass the
surgery.
I love these
inserts and wear
them in all of
my shoes. I have
suffered from
plantar
fasciitis for
over 2 years and
these are the
only inserts
that really
help.
I bought these
on the advice of
a friend who
does ultraruns.
I was having
burning,
stabbing pain
and numbness on
ball of foot-
these work so
well! At first I
thought "these
feel weird and
will not work"
but did a fast
18 miler with
heavy pack and
they helped a
LOT. I am buying
more pairs for
more shoes.
Great German
quality and an
affordable
alternative to
$$$ custom
orthotics.
There are plenty
of heel inserts
out there but
very few
products for
people with
forefoot
problems like
me! The Pedag
18306 Orthotic
is full length
and has a
wonderful
metatarsal pad
and arch support
I could slip
right into my
boot and go. I
plan on getting
another set.
My experience
with the Pedag
Master insoles
have been
phenomenal
because you get
what you pay
for, that is
they provide
maximum comfort
compared to
other name brand
insoles costing
twice the price
like Super feet
and even the
cheaper ones
like Dr.
Scholl’s.
I am a very
active tennis
player who
started
experiencing
Achilles
Tendonitis in my
left side and
Plantar
Fasciitis on my
right side. The
pain was, at
times,
debilitating and
traditional
methods of
treatment
weren't helping.
I was getting
some relief from
acupuncture but
it was expensive
and took time
out of my day.
At the
recommendation
of the
Pedorthist at my
local shoe
store, I bought
this. Within
days both
maladies were in
complete
remission, I had
no pain upon
walking. This
success
continues to
this day.
They are very
unobtrusive
compared to
other orthotics
and inserts but
seem to be at
least as
effective, if
not more.
An
orthotic is an insert, either soft or
firm, that is placed inside a shoe. It
is classified as
either custom or over-the-counter.
Custom orthotics should be made by a
podiatrist or a physical therapist who
has experience treating foot and ankle
disorders. The best
over-the-counter orthotics are available
at comfort shoe stores, from
chiropractors and podiatrists and better
shoe repairs. Customer orthotics
can be expensive ($400 or more) and
therefore you should not spend more than
$60 on an over-the-counter orthotic.
How
do orthotics work?
Hundreds of
scientific studies have been done to
determine how orthotics work.
Orthotics perform three major functions:
First,
orthotics help disperse forces
across your foot so one specific
area of the foot is not getting
overloaded.
Second,
orthotics help slow down pathologic
motion, such as over pronation or
over supination.
Third,
orthotics improve your foot's
awareness of its position in
relation to the ground. This
is a subconscious, neurological
awareness, which is probably why
orthotics feel good when you put
them in your shoes.
Do
I need a custom orthotic?
Although
over-the-counter orthotics work, custom
orthotics work better ; therefore,
custom orthotics are used when
over-the-counter orthotics fail to
relieve symptoms. Custom orthotics
are usually made out of highly durable
materials that last longer and are more
expensive. When a custom orthotic is
necessary, it is crucial that a
podiatrist is involved, as the wrong
type of orthotic can actually make
people feel worse or even cause a
different problem.
How
long do orthotics last?
This depends on the
type of activity. The more running one
does, the quicker the orthotic will wear
out. Over-the-counter orthotics
typically last about one year. Custom
orthotics usually last three to five
years – sometimes longer. With children,
replace orthotics every one to two shoe
sizes, depending on comfort.
Caution: Severe pain in the
foot and ankle should be diagnosed and
identified by a podiatrist or
orthopedist or other foot specialist.
Once the condition is identified
correctly, treatment options can be
discussed with your doctor. Even
severe foot pain can be eliminated with
the correct medical intervention, most
times without surgery. Use our
website's list of foot conditions
(below) to start your own research into
your condition.
Inflammation or painful burning
sensation
in the arch of the foot.
Cause:
Injury or a structural
imbalance of the plantar vault.
Frequently diagnosed as Plantar Fasciitis.
Plantar Fascia is
a fibrous band of tissue running
from the heel to forefoot, along the bottom
of the foot.
Stretching this
tissue away from the heel due to flattening
of the longitudinal arch or under
and over pronation. Over or
under pronation causes excessive
shock to the foot when walking,
running, etc.
The pain is
localized in the heel and/or arch and
is often extreme in the morning when
first getting out of bed after
prolonged rest.
Left untreated a
heel spur may develop.
Treatment:
Mild arch pain is
common and easily treated. Avoid high-heeled
shoes. Choose footwear with a stable
and supportive heel and shock
absorbing outsoles.
When arch pain is pronation related
a Pedag orthotic insole or insert can
rebalance the foot to a correct
position. This reduces stress,
allows the foot to heal,
inflammation is reduced and pain
recedes.
Recommended
Products:
Full Length Viva,
Pro-Active XCO (overall,
anatomically correct foot support)
¾ Length Holiday
(overall support, designed for shoes
with less toe room)
Physicians use
plantar fasciitis and post-static
dyskinesia to refer to heel pain.
Less common causes of heel pain
include: sciatica, tarsal tunnel
syndrome, entrapment of the lateral
plantar nerve, rupture of the
plantar fascia, heel stress
fracture, Sever's
disease. Systemic disorders rarely
cause heel pain.
Cause:
There are many
structures attached to the heel bone.
The two
structures primarily associated with
heel pain are the plantar fascia
(connective tissue that supports the
arch) and the foot flexor (digitorum
brevis) muscle. These structures
maintain the arch and stabilize the
foot. Pain occurs when these
structures pull away from the heel
bone causing a tear. When the
body tries to repair the tear, a
tiny calcium deposit forms creating
a heal spur.
Heel pain is
common in runners and in occupations that require
a lot of time on your feet because
both can
stretch the plantar fascia and
flexor muscle beyond
their limits.
This stretching
can lead to muscle tears, bone spurs
and other causes for heel pain.
Treatment:
Proper shoe fit
and adequate shock absorption are
very important to prevent and
relieve heel pain.
Equally
important, but often lacking, is
adequate support of the plantar
fascia (arch support), lateral
support and extra heel cushioning.
Pedag has many
insole and insert options keep the
foot in an anatomically correct
position which prevents and helps
heal pain caused by plantar
fasciitis and heel spurs.
Metatarsalgia is
a general term for pain in the ball-of-the-foot.
It is a common
disorder that can affect the bones
and joints at the ball-of-the-foot.
Metatarsalgia is
often located under the 2nd, 3rd,
and 4th metatarsal heads, or more
isolated at the first metatarsal
head near the big toe.
Cause:
The bones of the
fore foot are small and delicate
compared to the heel and
longitudinal arch area of the foot.
Each step or jump you take, gravity
and added body weight put enormous
stress on the forefoot.
Metatarsalgia occurs when one or more of the
metatarsal heads become painful
and/or inflamed, usually due to
excessive stress over a long
period of time. Pain can be acute,
recurrent or chronic.
Ball-of-foot pain
is often caused by ill fitting
shoes, high heels, a
narrow toe box where forefoot is
forced into minimal space.
Other factors
that cause excessive pressure in the
ball-of-foot are high impact sports
without proper footwear.
As we get age,
the fat pad in our foot tends to
thin out, making us much more
susceptible to metatarsalgia.
Treatment:
Footwear wide enough at the
forefoot. Shoes that lift up
naturally in the toe area.
Offloading
pressure from the ball-of-the-foot redistributes weight
and relieves the metatarsal bones.
It is unusual for "over the counter"
orthotics to include metatarsal
pads. However, Pedag makes
many orthotics with built in
metatarsal pads of varying heights.
Some Pedag
orthotics are ideal for use when
wearing haute
couture shoes with pointed toes and
stiletto heels. Pedag insoles, such
as Lady, Feel Good and Queen are
designed to discreetly fit and
accommodate Jimmy Choo®, Salvatore
Farragamo®, Manolo Blahnik® and
Prada® for fashion with comfort.
Ensure proper
fitting footwear. The widest part of
your foot (at the metatarsal heads)
should be at the widest part of the
shoe.
Your longest toe
should not touch the front of the
shoe.
The shank of the
shoe should be wide enough.
Your foot should
not touch the front or roll over the
side of any footwear. If you cannot wiggle your toes in a
shoe, they don’t fit.
Recommended
Products:
Metatarsal
pads:
Tear drop or
T-Form shaped pads used to raise the
metatarsal heads. Typically, it begins
proximally at the metatarsal bases and
gradually thickens and widens till just
proximal to metatarsal heads, where it
thins in height and narrows in width,
ending distally at the metatarsal heads.
Pedag
incorporates the tear drop and t-form
shaped metatarsal pads into many of our
orthotics.
Overall Foot
Support Viva
(for dress shoes) Vitality
(for athletic shoes and sockless
comfort) Pro-Active XCO
(for all impact activities)
Plantar Fasciitis
is inflammation of the plantar
fascia, the band of fibrous tissue
that runs along the bottom surface
of the foot attaching to the bottom
of the heel and extending to the
forefoot bones (metatarsal heads)
Heel pain, arch
pain and heel spurs are common
symptoms.
Cause:
In general Plantar fasciitis is caused
by excessive stretching of the plantar
facsia which can be caused by the
following:
Over and under pronation
where the weight of the body is
unbalanced and excessive amounts of
pressure are placed on the arch
versus the strong heel bone. This
causes the plantar fascia to stretch
and pull away from the heel bone.
A sudden increase
in physical activity.
Excessive weight
on the foot from activity,
repetitive stress, obesity, or
pregnancy.
Improperly
fitting footwear (too short or too
flat).
Treatment:
The key for the
proper treatment of plantar
fasciitis is determining the cause
of excessive stretching of the
fascia.
When the cause is
over or under pronation, the
treatment goal is to keep the foot
aligned in a neutral position of
approximately 90°. Orthotics with
rigid or semi-rigid support of
the entire plantar fascia (plantar
vault area) help keep the foot in
the anatomically correct position.
Supportive footwear or orthotics
should be worn whenever walking or
standing on hard surfaces.
Other common treatments
include active
stretching exercises and passive
night splints
Icing affected
areas twice a day for 15-20 minutes
in beneficial.
Deep tissue
massage using ultrasound can speed
healing.
Cortisone
injections (either one or more as
needed) offer immediate relief and
allow other treatments to be
effective long term.
Diabetes (Pre-Diabetes
and ) is a disease where the body does
not produce or properly use insulin.
Insulin is a hormone used to convert
sugar and starched to energy.
Genetics and poor health habits such as
over eating and lack of exercise
are believed to be the primary causes of
Diabetes. Diabetes can lead to
very serious foot problems because
diabetics often suffer from nerve damage
and poor circulation. Even simple foot
problems can become serious quickly due
to diabetes symptoms. It is extremely
important for diabetics to take very
good care of their feet. Orthotics
should be prescribed by a podiatrist or
other foot specialist because orthotic
lifts and pads can cause pressure which
can lead to problems for diabetics.
Care of the Diabetic Foot:
Doctors recommend many
safety measures to prevent foot problems
due to diabetes and pre-diabetes such
as:
Checking your feet
regularly for injuries.
Lubricating your skin
with lotion, petroleum jelly on the
tops and bottoms because nerve
damage can cause skin to become dry,
peel and crack.
Diabetics may have
nerve damage and they should never
go barefoot even at home. Diabetics
may be unaware of hurting their feel
by stubbing toes, stepping on sharp
objects or being too hot or cold.
Achilles
tendonitis is inflammation or
irritation of the fibrous tendon connected
to the heel (calcaneus) and calf muscle.
Cause:
Tendons are
subject to wear and tear, overuse,
inflammatory diseases
and direct injury. Most common
causes are overuse during work and
play
An achilles
tendon rupture happens when the foot
is dorsiflexed while there is
forward motion of the tibia over the
foot and the calf muscles are
contracting.
It is the
combination of a forceful stretch of
the tendon and a contraction of the
calf muscles.
Treatment:
A ruptured
Achilles tendon will require
surgical repair, followed by as much
as 12 weeks in casts or walker
boots.
Partial tears
require the same amount of time with
no weight bearing on the tendon.
Pedag has
developed a heel bed for use with
Achilles tendon repair. Usually used
for six months to a year following
removal of the cast or walker the
orthotic provides excellent
anatomical positioning while
reducing stress on the tendon.
Rehabilitation is
necessary to
regain flexibility and muscle
strength following healing.
Bunions are often
asymptomatic and do not pose a
problem in themselves
Bunions are one
of the most common forefoot
problems.
It is a bony
prominence on the medial (inside) of
the foot around the big toe joint.
The bump is
actually a bone protruding towards
the smaller toes.
It is common for
the big toe to overlap the second
toe.
Bunion symptoms
include inflammation, swelling, and
soreness.
Bunions often
disrupt a smooth gait cycle.
Cause:
Bunions are more
frequent among women due to
restrictive or high heel fashion
shoes.
Tight, narrow
dress shoes with a constrictive toe
box can cause the foot to take the
shape of the shoe.
Toes are squeezed
together, causing the first
metatarsal bone to protrude as the
great toe turns inward.
Treatment:
The best way to
alleviate bunion pain is to wear
properly fitting shoes. Unless shoe preferences change,
bunion are likely to remain painful
and worsen in severity.
A deeper toe box
with appropriate width is
recommended.
Pedag insoles can
relieve the pressure on the forefoot
and keep the arch in correct
position, to slow the progression of bunions.
Other
conservative treatments which
relieve pain include
bunion shields, bunion night
splints, and bunion bandages.
Although shoes
are the main reason for the
prevalence of bunions, they are not
the only cause.
A Callus is the
buildup of dead skin cells that
harden to protect the foot from
excessive pressure on a specific
area.
Calluses are
typically found on the ball of the
foot, the heel, and the big toe
area.
Some calluses may
have a deep core know as a
nucleation. (Intractable Plantar
Keratosis or IPS).
Calluses can be
extremely painful with undue
pressure from tight footwear or thin
soles.
Cause:
Calluses develop
due to localized pressure.
Common causes are
high-heel shoes, ill fitting shoes,
abnormalities in the gait cycle,
loss of fatty tissue on the sole,
bony prominences, obesity, flat or
high arched feet.
Treatment:
Do not trim or
cut calluses. It can be very
dangerous and possibly worsen the
condition. Consult a podiatrist or
other physician.
A Pedag orthotic
re-distributes weight to relieve
stress and pressure in specific
area. This prevents calluses
from forming and also relieves pain
from existing calluses..
Corns are very
common and typically form across the
tops, tips or sides of toes.
Like calluses,
corns develop from a buildup of dead
skin cells, forming thick, hard
areas. They contain a cone-shaped
core.
Pain is caused
when the point of the cone presses
on a nerve.
Consistent
pressure and friction caused by ill
fitting footwear can inflame a corn.
‘Soft corns’ form
between the toes.
Cause:
Friction from
high heeled and improperly fitted
shoes, stocking or socks can cause
corns.
Soft corns are
typically a result of bony
prominences located between the
toes. (Perspiration makes them
soft.)
Bursitis or
ulcers are more serious
complications of corns.
Treatment:
To prevent corns,
wear properly fitted footwear with a
deep toe box.
Pedag insoles can
alleviate discomfort by absorbing
shock, reducing friction or shear
forces.
Correcting poor
gait pattern through correct
anatomical positioning can also
help.
Corn solutions
and medicated pads may cause
irritation and discomfort. People
with poor circulation, such as
diabetics, should avoid chemical
agents except under the care of a
physician.
Fungus are single
celled organisms, including
mushrooms, yeasts, rusts molds and
others, characterized by the absence
of chlorophyll and the presence of a
rigid cell wall composed of chitin,
manans and sometimes cellulose.
Cause:
Fungus are
attracted by chemical abnormalities,
improperly fitted footwear,
synthetic footwear, excessively wet
areas from perspiration or other
moisture, injury, accidents, poor
circulation and gangrene.
Treatment:
The type of the
fungus and the spread or infection
will determine how the physician
treats it.
There are
internal and external treatments
with many types of medications.
Pedag can help
control or alleviate the risk of
fungus by using natural materials
that allow your feet to breathe and
keep the inside of the shoe dry.
Absorbent
materials that draw moisture away
from your feet to stay cool and dry
also help.
Anti-bacterial
insoles help form an environment
that resists fungus.
The heel bone is
the largest bone in the foot and
absorbs the most shock and pressure.
A heel spur
develops as an abnormal growth of
the heel bone.
Heel spurs can
cause extreme pain while standing or
walking.
Cause:
The plantar
fascia pulling away from the heel
stimulates calcium deposits. The
deposits form a bone-like
protrusion, called a heel spur.
Treatment:
The key for the
proper treatment of heel spurs is
determining what is causing the
excessive stretching of the plantar
fascia.
If the cause is
over-pronation, a Pedag orthotic
with rearfoot posting and
longitudinal arch support is an
effective device to reduce over-pronation,
and allow healing.
Other common
treatments include stretching
exercises, losing weight, wearing
shoes with a cushioned heel to
absorbs shock, and elevating the
heel with the use of a heel cradle,
heel cup.
Pedag inserts
that can add these features to
existing shoes.
A neuroma is a tumor or new growth
largely made up of nerve cells and
nerve fiber. It
is a tumor growing from a nerve. Dr.
Thomas G. Morton (1835-1902)
developed a test for pain in the
forefoot, now known as Morton's
Neuroma.
Cause:
Typically, bones
squeeze a nerve between the 3rd and
4th metatarsal heads.
This leads to
inflammation.
Symptoms usually
occur after placing excessive
amounts of force on the forefoot by
running, jumping or from wearing ill
fitting or non-supportive footwear.
Treatment:
Proper treatment
starts with proper footwear,
meaning: Footwear that fits your
foot type and shape, footwear that
is stable and with a slightly rocked
outer sole will assist in easing
pain.
Pedag keeps the
forefoot in an anatomically correct
position and also cushions the
forefoot against shock.
Morton's Toe is a
common forefoot disorder where the
second toe is longer than the Big
Toe (the Hallux).
Pressure across
the heads causes a sharp pain,
especially between the second and
third metatarsal heads.
Cause:
Morton's toe
leads to excessive pressure on the
second metatarsal head (behind the
second toe at the ball- of-the-foot)
resulting in pain similar to
metatarsalgia.
Constant pressure
on the longer second toe while
walking or standing can lead to
callus formation under the second
metatarsal head.
Treatment:
Proper treatment
starts with proper footwear,
including a high and wide toe box.
It may be
necessary to buy footwear a half to
a size larger to accommodate the
longer second toe.
Pedag keeps the
foot aligned and provide a
metatarsal pad to reduce stress and
the corresponding pain.
Posterior Tibial
Tendonitis is inflammation of the
back of the tibial tendon, which runs
along the inside of the ankle.
This tendon
tilts the foot to the outside when
turning or walking on uneven
terrain.
With PTTD the
tendon does not support the arch as
it rises. Suddenly you are
unable to propel yourself forward.
Your ankle turns inward, but will
not turn outward.
Standing is
painful and pain becomes worse when
walking or running.
PTTD leads to
heel pain, arch pain, plantar
fasciitis and heel spurs.
Causes:
PTTD occurs when
the tendon that connects muscle with
the tibia is strained. As damage to
the tendon builds up, tendonitis
develops. At first pain and
swelling come and go quickly, but
eventually the problem can become
permanent.
Years of over-pronation
(flat feet) can also lead to
posterior tibial tendon dysfunction.
Treatment:
To reduce
symptoms, limit activity to control
the pain and swelling. Stay off your
feet a few days and then slowly
increase your activity. Rest allows
the tissues in your foot to heal.
Non-surgical
treatment includes Pedag insoles
with rear foot posting and medial
longitudinal arch support. This
design will reduce strain on the
post tibial tendon and prevent
excessive stretching of the plantar
fascia.
Over-Pronation is
a common biomechanical problem that
occurs when the arch collapses on
weight bearing.
The motion causes
extreme stress, pain & inflammation
on the plantar fascia.
Cause:
Over-pronation is
prominent in people who have
flexible, flat feet.
The plantar vault
begins to collapse, causing the foot
to flatten, adding additional stress
to other parts.
Over-pronation
can lead to Plantar Fasciitis, Heel
Spurs, Metatarsalgia, Posterior
Tibial Tendonitis, and Bunions.
Back pain and
knee pain are related to over
pronation and mal-alignment.
There are many
causes of flattening feet. Obesity,
pregnancy or repetitive pounding on
a hard surface can weaken the arch
leading to over-pronation.
When symptoms
develop and become painful, walking
becomes awkward and increases strain
on the feet and calves.
Treatment:
Over-Pronation
can be treated conservatively by
making sure your foot has enough
heel height and support to prevent
the foot from excessively
flattening.
Pedag insoles are
designed with arch support and
medial rearfoot posting to prevent
over-pronation while maintaining
correct anatomical positioning. The
polypropylene base can be customized
using a blow dryer.
Footwear with
long heel counters are recommended
for extra support and stability.
Rocker Bottoms
alleviate the stress on your foot as
they help to propel you forward in
the gait cycle. Shoes with Rocker
Bottoms include Drew Fitter and
Bounce®, Alden CDI Shoes®, PW Minor®
Sampson and Hiker® Boots.
Aetrex®,
Merrell®, and New Balance® make
athletic products with rocker-like
soles as well.
"Exercise
Sandals" with no back or strap are
beneficial for pronated feet, which
tend to be weaker and more flexible.
Because the sandal will fall off if
you do not grip with your toes you
end building foot muscles.
Supination is the
exaggerated height of the
longitudinal arch.
It may be present
from birth or appear later due to
contractures or disturbed balance of
the muscles.
Cause:
Over-pronation is
prominent in people who have
flexible, flat feet.
A foot is in
supination when the ankle appears to
be 'tipped' to the outside as if you
are standing on the outer edge of
the foot.
Supination, or
the curve of the arch, allows the
foot to be a more stable, rigid
structure at toe-off.
The foot naturally supinates during
the toe-off to provide more leverage
to roll off the toes.
Excessive
supination predisposes the ankle to
injury because the stabilizing
muscles on the outside of the lower
leg (peroneals) are in a stretched
position. Should the ankle roll
over, ligament damage could ensue.
Treatment:
Shoes should have
firm heel counters and solid wide
bases to provide better balance and
stability. This would keep feet
straighter and assist the arch from
falling over.
Pedag orthotics
help by holding the foot in the
correct anatomical position.
