Not every foot fits perfectly into new shoes. If you have wide feet, flat feet, and/or bunions, then you know the drill. Finding a new pair of shoes takes dozens of try-ons, several laps around the shoe store, and even then, you might discover an ache or blister point a few weeks after your purchase. Fortunately, you don't have to rely solely on the built-in structure of your shoes. That padding, shape, and arch support can be changed with the help of off-the-shelf or over-the-counter (OTC) orthotic inserts.
By swapping out or adding orthotic inserts to shoes, you can help your shoes properly fit, support, and cushion your wide or flat feet and ease pressure off your bunions. We're here to help you find your ideal off-the-shelf orthotic inserts to suit your unique feet.
Understanding Off-the-Shelf Orthotic Inserts
Off-the-shelf orthotic inserts are shoe inserts (replacement insoles) designed to serve a medical purpose. There are all types of shoe inserts. Those called orthotics are designed to help with medical conditions relating to the shape and configuration of your feet.
In many shoes you can take out the built-in shoe insoles that create the interior foot shape (ex, arch, heel cup, padding, etc.) and replace it with an orthotic insert that can provide better support, better padding, and a shape that accommodates wide feet, flat feet, and/or bunions. To find shoes that have removable inserts, check out the shoe reviews on our website and filter by “Removable Insoles” (click on “yes” under Removable Insoles to show all shoes with Removable Insoles). Check out our shoe reviews and searchable filters at YourBestToe.com - SHOE REVIEWS.
The good news is that off-the-shelf inserts can be quite easy to find and affordable - once you know what to look for. We're here to help you learn how orthotic inserts help these specific foot issues, recommend over-the-counter orthotic insert options, and the positives and negatives of these options.
Why Orthotic Inserts Help Wide Feet, Flat Feet, and Bunions
When you have challenging feet, orthotic inserts are incredibly helpful. Many people with wide feet, flat feet, and/or bunions enjoy walking only by adding orthotic inserts to every pair of shoes. So if you find yourself browsing the Dr Scholl's insert tree at the shoe store, you're not alone! Here are the joys we have discovered in finding the right orthotic inserts for wide, flat, and bunion-bearing feet.
Reshape the Inside of Your Shoe
Are shoes always the wrong shape inside? Not anymore! With the right orthotic insert, you can completely "rebuild" the internal structure of a shoe. We particularly enjoy this benefit because it allows you to pick both the outside design of your shoe (ex, boots, work shoes, running sneakers) and then shape the inside to support and comfort your feet.
Provide Comfortable Cushioning
Flat feet and bunions, in particular, need extra cushioning. Most orthotic inserts are built on a foundation of gel or memory foam, adding that extra cushion you need to reduce damage and ease pain.
Wide Feet
For wide feet, orthotic insertd can solve your two biggest problems when it comes to finding good shoes that fit: deep foot cups and sharp edges.
Remove Edge Constraints - the "foot cup" is the shallow area in the center of an insole that creates padded space for your foot. If you have wide feet, that space is too narrow even if the shoe appears wide on the outside. An orthotic insert for wide feet provides a wider padded space for your foot.
Soften Sharp Edges - Flat-soled shoes often have a sharp edge between the insole and the shoe wall. The right orthotic insert ensures better width and padding over that edge for greater comfort.
Flat Feet
If you have flat feet, shoe arches are often uncomfortably high, and you are at higher risk of foot pain from plantar damage (the tissue along the bottom of your foot). Orthotic inserts provide a solution to both problems.
Provide the Right Support - Orthotic inserts for flat feet provide a cushioned shallow arch that is just right to help you walk comfortably without pronated ankles (inward movement of the ankles) to improve comfort in your feet, knees, and hips.
Replace Painfully High Arches - Flat feet need arch support, but high internal arches are painful. Remove the built-in insoles and replace them with orthotic inserts for comfortably shallow arch support.
Ease Foot Pain - If you are prone to plantar fasciitis pain, padded orthotic inserts in gel or memory foam can help ease that foot pain and prevent further damage.
Bunions
Bunions change the shape of your foot and make the affected joint tender. You need inserts that provide room and are gentle on your bunion-affected joints, and orthotic inserts for bunions can provide that.
Redistribute Pressure - Orthotic inserts for bunions can redistribute pressure to take pressure off your bunion joints.
Good Foot Support for Balance – Orthotics are optimized to provide excellent foot support and help you achieve balance without putting too much weight on your bunion joints.
Positioning for Less Pain - Bunions are often much less painful when wearing orthotic inserts that provide room, padding, and support in all the right places.
How to Find the Right Off-the-Shelf Orthotic Inserts
Now that you know why off-the-shelf orthotic inserts are beneficial, let's dive right into the purpose of this piece: How to choose the right orthotic inserts for your unique feet. Whether you have wide feet, flat feet, bunions - or all three - there are orthotics that you will find more comfortable and supportive than the structure built into most shoes.
1. Determine Your Foot Needs
First, figure out what your feet need the most. In your journey through different shoes, you've probably put together a mental list. These questions can also help:
Do you need low arches for flat feet, because high arches are painful?
Do you need a wide toe box to make room for your bunions, or generally wider space for wide feet?
Do you need extra cushioning at the heel or ball of your foot?
Do you need softer edges around the borders of your shoe soles?
Make a list and keep it in mind when shopping for off-the-shelf orthotic inserts.
2. Try Orthotic Inserts Made for Your Foot Conditions
Step two is to check out orthotic inserts that are designed for your foot condition(s). These are often shaped and formulated by podiatrists (foot doctor) and may have little elements of support or padding you didn't realize your feet were missing. Try a few varieties and brands designed for your type of foot.
3. Cut To Size
Most orthotics are purchased in a shoe size range which controls the size of the heel cup and arch ratio. Then you can cut the toes to fit your exact shoe size and the shape of your shoes. We suggest using an old favorite pair of shoes with removable inserts for your experimentation. But you can also try orthotic inserts with a new pair of shoes that you really want to fit well.
To get the hang of cutting the toes to the right shape, practice with a cheap multi-pack of foam-only inserts.
4. Remove the Current Insoles
We always recommend removing the insoles that come with your shoes before inserting off-the-shelf orthotic inserts. Using orthotic inserts on top of insoles usually makes the shoe significantly smaller and the insole too high. Not all shoes have removable insoles so check the Shoe Reviews tab on our website and filter for shoes with Removable Insoles. YourBestToe.com - SHOE REVIEWS.
5. Try Different Shoe Combinations
Orthotic inserts fit into shoes differently depending on the shoes' width, shape, and even the purpose. The right orthotics for your running shoes may be different from the best orthotics for your dress shoes, and so on.
When Custom Orthotic Inserts are Better
Off-the-shelf orthotic inserts can make shoes much more comfortable. But there are also situations where custom doctor-crafted orthotic inserts are the better option. If you are experiencing foot pain or knee/hip/back pain even with the best off-the-shelf orthotic, consider seeing a podiatrist for custom orthotics instead.
Here are a few examples of when custom orthotic inserts may be the better solution:
Unusual Foot Shape - Your feet go above and beyond in terms of unusual shape.
Extreme Bunion Formation - Your bunion formation exceeds what off-the-shelf orthotic inserts can help with.
Combination Foot Conditions - Your combination of foot conditions is too complicated to help with any one set of off-the-shelf orthotic inserts.
Musculoskeletal Pain - You experience foot, knee, hip, and/or back pain no matter what inserts you wear.
Off-the-Shelf Orthotic Inserts Are Never Quite Right - You just can't find the right off-the-shelf orthotic inserts for your feet after a few months of exploration.
Getting Custom Orthotics
Getting custom orthotics is more expensive than off-the-shelf orthotic inserts but they also have many positive attributes. Custom orthotic inserts are custom crafted to your feet, designed by your personal foot doctor, and are usually extremely sturdy. Because they are custom to your foot, you can have them remade without worrying about changes to brands and products over time. And lastly, once they are made you can get them refurbished for a lot less after they wear out.
To get custom orthotics made you need to go to a podiatrist, have your feet examined, and get a mold taken of your unique foot shape. If the original custom inserts aren't comfortable, you can go back and work with the doctor to have the design adjusted until they work for your feet.
Now that you understand off-the-shelf orthotic inserts and how they help your specific foot, you are better able to choose the best one for your feet; one that will help support and cushion your wide, flat or bunion-bearing feet. Check out our blog post - Best Off-the-Shelf Orthotic Inserts for Flat Feet and Bunions (yourbesttoe.com).
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