Teachers, nurses, construction workers, cashiers, servers, mothers, runners, and anyone else who has spent a great deal of time on their feet, know the toll standing for long periods of time can take on your body. If your job requires you to stand for lengthy periods without rest, it can lead to a wide variety of issues, especially if you have poor posture or your shoes provide inadequate support. These issues, over time, go far beyond foot soreness and can develop into chronic foot pain and other ailments like plantar fasciitis. People on their feet all day want relief and a way to prevent future problems. Getting a quality insole can help, and this post will show you the best insole for foot pain to meet your specific needs.
Understanding Foot Pain
When you stand, the same muscles in your feet strain repeatedly, as the pressure on them remains constant. However, when you walk about, the pressure shifts to and from different areas of your foot because the same muscles aren’t working all the time. Tired, achy feet are normal after standing all day but if your feet hurt in one particular area after a long shift on your feet, you may have a more specific support need for your feet.
Often people who have localized foot pain require softer insoles to ease pressure on their feet. Having a high-quality insole footbed is key to reducing pressure and discomfort. A good pair of insoles can make a world of difference in how your feet feel after a long day of work. The simple act of replacing your shoe insoles with a good pair of premium insoles can yield increased comfort and even decrease your chance of injury.
The best insoles for foot pain provide both cushioning as your feet bear down into your shoes and support to lift your arches and ensure proper alignment of feet, ankles, knees, hips, and back. Look for cushioned arch support insoles that will help to keep the foot gently supported throughout the long day and release pressure off your feet.
Here are few of the best types of performance insoles to help relieve sore feet for people who stand for extended periods of time:
Air Gel Insole
This insole type provides motion control and support, making it ideal for buyers with low to neutral arches. It aims to increase your comfort by reducing and absorbing the impact of your feet while walking, running or standing for long periods. A brand like SofSole features an encapsulated air chamber in the rear foot and polymeric gel in the forefoot for optimum shock absorption.
While these are a fairly common solution for people who stand all day, they might not be right for everyone.
Rigid and Semi-Rigid Arch Support Insoles
Semi-rigid orthotic arch support insoles feature a flexible footbed platform. It is ideal for providing excellent support for the whole foot without the arch support feeling too stiff. Rigid orthotic arch support insoles have a footbed platform that is almost entirely stiff, which make these a good option for people who require more solid arch support.
Super Feet Green is one brand of semi-rigid insoles and are good for providing comfort, stability, and support to your feet. They are also ideal for keeping your feet in check and avoid overburdening them with a shock absorption foam bed. However these types of insoles are not adjustable, and it may take purchasing a few different pairs before finding the fit that works best for you.
Adjustable Lifting Arch Support
People who are looking for arch support, cushioning, and relief from joint pain can benefit from an adjustable lifting arch support insole. SelectFlex is unique because it’s the first truly adjustable arch that molds to your individual arch shape. The result is an insole that constantly lifts your arch upwards all day long with every step.
No two feet are alike, but over-the-counter insoles are often designed for one foot type. The benefit of choosing SelectFlex is that it provides three adjustable arch height and comfort settings to dynamically realign the foot arch, ankle joint, knees, hips, and lower back into optimal position for maximum comfort and support all day long.
Proper foot alignment can be the key to relieving foot pain and preventing further issues for many people who are on their feet all day. SelectFlex ensures proper alignment with a deep cradling heel cup that provides 50% greater ankle stability with a soft cushioning heel cup for impact absorption that mimics walking on air.
For some people with certain medical conditions, SelectFlex still may not provide the support needed, in which case a visit with a podiatrist and a custom orthotic may be the right option. However, an adjustable lifting arch support does offer more long-term relief and lasts longer than other over-the-counter options.
Learn more about SelectFlex and how it helps relive foot pain for workers on their feet all day here.
