Insoles

[Emma]

I have just realised why it is that my knees hurt whenever I am out walking. It's because of my boots. According to a physio, my feet are attached to my leg at a slight angle so that the outside edge of my feet naturally hang lower than the inside edge, and because of that, standing on the ground (or the solid soles of my boots) forces the outside of my leg up more than the inside, which creates the problem with my knees. When I'm wearing trainers (even for equally long times and distances) I don't get the problem with my knees because the soft soles let the outside edge of my feet sink in, so they are at a more natural angle.

Anyway. I'm going to be using my boots quite a lot more from now onwards, and I want to avoid my knee problem. As I'm sure this kind of problem isn't too rare, someone must know what to do about it. I can't get a physio to help because I'm a student and I can't afford it.
I'm guessing that 'bumpy' insoles would be the easiest answer, but I don't know how to make them bumpy.

Basically, any and all suggestions welcomed!

 

[tedw]

Ideally, go see a podiatrist who could make you insoles that would compensate for your problem. Can you get that on the NHS? If not, going private might not be too outrageous and, in my experience, having comfortable feet is the single most important thing about the outdoors!

What about different, lighter or softer boots?

If all that is out of the question, take your boots and get to a good outdoors shop (Outdoor Shop, Field & Trek, Cotswold Camping etc. etc.) and have a chat with their boot fitters. They will have a range of after-market insoles which you could try on while stamping about the shop, climbing the stairs, slopes etc. If that does not work, you’re stuck with making the insoles you’ve got work for you, reshaping them until you get comfortable. I guess that means shaving down the side of the insole (but this reduces the impact absorption) or building up the other side with shaped packing pieces glued to the insole as required (but this could spoil the fit of the boots). If you want to try that, I’ve got some scrap pieces of sleeping mat foam you’re very welcome to have, just PM me.

Also, and especially if you are going to be carrying heavy rucsacs, think about a pair of walking poles, they do ease the load on the knees and assist stability.

Good luck – my wife has the same problem as she’s on her feet all day at a raptor sanctuary, and I know there’s no easy answer.

Ted W

 

[Shadow Walker]

Emma

I have had a similar problem in the past, but mine was caused from collapsed arches. The advice I was given was to firstly spend out and get a good pair of insoles. Next you need some foam (the type you get in most furniture). Cut out a small amount to the height that you need and also the shape you need. This will be a bit of trial and error until you get it right. Place these on to the insole while it is out of the shoe. This will help you to get the shape you need. Once you are happy, use soft glue like prit stick to stick the lift onto the insole. The reason you use prit stick is because it can be easy removed with hot soapy water if it causes you more harm than good. Once you have made your ideal lift, you can then stick in down with a stronger type of glue.

Hope this helps.

Jason

 

[andyn]

I have very slight hyperextension in my right knee and suffer from very similar issues as you describe including terrible pains in my leg and very sore feet from where they weren't taking my body wieght in the right places.

I now use an insole by http://www.superfeet.com/content/index.html which is an aftermarket insole but about as close as you can get to a podiatrist reccomended insole without having a custom job done.

They set me back about 60 notes to do both my trainers and walking boots but haven't looked back since.

I can now do 20-30 weekend hikes without the slightest pain that i used to get.

 

[mark a.]

I know what you mean, Emma. My feet are actually ok, but after several miles' walking they can get somewhat sore. I bought some Sole footbeds, which are heat moldable - you stick them in a warm oven to soften a bit, stick them in your boots, put your boots on and stand there for a bit. The insoles mould to your feet as they cool, but still provide the extra support needed. Since getting them, my feet have been much happier! I also fancy trying out some Superfeet on my walking shoes, but haven't got round to it yet.

The best advice is to see a professional, though. My mum used to always have loads of problems with her feet and back, and eventually went to see a specialist. They made her walk over a pad connected to a computer that figured out what's right and wrong, then made up some fancy insoles (carbon fibre or similar, by the looks of it). She's now totally happy, and always wears the insoles - they're fully transferable them from shoe to shoe. I don't know how much all that cost, though.

Another thought is that if you can get a doctor to officially recognise your feet as being "bad", then you get shoes VAT free, which saves a lot of money when buying fancy walking boots!

 

[Motorbike Man]

I've always used Sorbothane footbeds and up until recently wouldn't have considered using a pair of boots with out them, however these may not solve your particular problem. One thing that might could be to find your nearest Cotswold Outdoors shop as they now have machines that can custom make fitted footbeds. I haveno idea how much it costs, but it could be worth a look

 

[Spacemonkey]

Similar problems over here too. My Physio made some insoles for me for £20 I seem to remember about 10 years ago, so it's not so bad as you'd think. Well worth it. Recently I had tendonitis of the right achilles on Dartmoor with an hours walk to go. Very painfull and i couldn't walk for a couple of days. To aid healing I wore heel only insoles from my Danner boots in all my shoes to increase the foot/leg angle to take the strain off the tendon. It worked after a few months. I also used a good one piece elastic support bandage which helped imeasurabley, but I'm digressing here now!

 

[jay120970]

cut the end of your foam sleeping mat and cut around the insoles of your boots the slide them in instead

if your boots are big enough you can use two layers for extra padding

dont worry if they feel tight at first as they will mold them selfs to the shape of your foot as you walk, this method was shown to me by someone with feet problems as i have flat feet and carnt walk on insoles with that lump in the side
like you get in trainers

hope this is of some help

 

[spoony]

I've always used Sorbothane footbeds and up until recently wouldn't have considered using a pair of boots with out them, however these may not solve your particular problem. One thing that might could be to find your nearest Cotswold Outdoors shop as they now have machines that can custom make fitted footbeds. I haveno idea how much it costs, but it could be worth a look

See above george fisher also have these machines that mould them to the shape of your foot