Orthotics in running shoes – What’s the true story?

Orthotics in running shoes must be one of the most controversial topics in the history of sport, so you can trust ironguides Coach Jono Rumbelow to have an opinion on that one.I’m back after a long lay-off due to a few family issues and I thought I’d come back with a bang in true Coach Jono-style.

Orthotics in running shoes must be one of the most controversial topics in the history of sport. Podiatrists say one thing, running shops another and then biomechanics specialists began adding fuel to the fire of what was right and wrong. It wasn’t long before you had a multitude of companies producing what they thought was the perfect solution to all your running or cycling problems.

Sure enough, though, a common denominator came out and oh my word what a revelation it was. The Windlass Mechanism was introduced to the world and some toes got not just stood on but trampled because here was a principle by which dynamic movement of the foot could be measured by other ways than just the “observe the foot in a static mode and hope for the best” type of method. Add to this the patterns obtained when running over a pressure pad (and there are a few more than just RS Scan International), and you can diagnose pretty accurately why people are continuously getting injured.

In days gone by people were told, “Just go buy a neutral shoe because the orthotic will support your foot and all will be fine”. Trust me when I say that is wrong because that is exactly what happened to me and it certainly did not sort out the problem despite me following everything that I was told to do to rehabilitate my injury.

Don’t get me wrong, podiatry is a much respected profession and orthotics do have a place but I personally don’t think they belong in running shoes. They are too rigid and, besides, your biomechanical function changes when you use a personalised insole of any sort so the life-time warranty is useless.

In order for you to stop the injury your foot needs to function. Placing a rigid device under the foot prevents that from happening so the muscular system goes to sleep and when it does start working it’s too late. Your foot is designed to pronate. How else is it supposed to absorb the pressure generated when you make contact with the ground? Controlling the amount of pronation is not so much the key but, more importantly, getting the muscular system to function efficiently.

There are a few running shops in the world today (of which I have had the pleasure to visit some) that do understand the workings of the foot. They are all too aware of the myths surrounding an orthotic with a neutral shoe. Video evidence does not lie! The truth is that those who do need an insole hopefully have something that was made with
the Windlass Mechanism in mind. The choice of shoes needs to complement the insole so that the two work in harmony for your body. Remember the idea here is to have you running efficiently and free of injury, and the advice they give should ensure that very aspect.

Most respectable running shops these days have a video camera to capture your running gait in store. Let the evidence of the video help you with your choice, not some salesperson trying to sell you a shoe that is the most expensive and most probably the wrong shoe for your foot.

Jono Rumbelo, Certified ironguides Method Coach – South Africa