Upstep Sport Custom Orthotics & Insoles
Sport Activites
Our Insole Effect
Where It Hurts
EVERY SPORT IMPACTS YOUR FEET DIFFERENTLY
Orthotics provide much-needed protection from the pavement
Running injuries are extremely common and can be caused by excessive training, poor foot mechanics, weak core muscles or worn footwear. Often they stem from a combination of two or more of these issues. Plantar fasciitis, heel pain, Achilles tendinitis, Functional Hallux limitus and shin pain are a few of the injuries reported by runners that account for significant interruptions to their training. Further up the leg in the shins and ankles, pain can be a result of fatigued muscles such as the posterior tibial, flexor digitorum longus or peroneus longus muscles. These problems in turn, overload the plantar fascia and intrinsic muscles of the foot, resulting in the ‘auto-supportive’ mechanism of the foot failing. This creates a vicious cycle, as the decrease in foot efficiency increases the stress on the ankle and lower leg.
Walking is simple, but it can still cause complications
Power walking uses a modified gait that emphasizes the roll of the foot to reach speeds and to get a cardiovascular workout that most people only manage through jogging. The effect of fatigue on tendons and ligaments can lead to injury, especially if the body is not given sufficient time to repair itself. Hiking involves less movement of the foot but the amount of time that you are on your feet is fatiguing, and much more so if you’ happen to be carrying a pack. Combined with rough/rocky or soft/wet terrain, and the foot takes a beating. Good quality hiking boots are essential, but these too can be tough on the feet since they are built stiff to support the foot and ankle.
Unusual loading of weight on the foot makes injuries common. Insoles can help
Cyclingrelated forefoot/metatarsalgia and arch pain can occur due to the unusual way the foot is loaded – through the arch and forefoot rather than the heel. This pressure, along with the unforgiving nature of the modern cycle shoe, can lead to soft tissue in the foot being damaged. Our Cycle insole is designed to reduce the load in the front of the foot by balancing pressure distribution over the entire foot. It is also designed to maximize the foot’s ability to apply more power through the pedal by reducing foot deformation, since the more a foot deforms under loading, the more power is lost. Our Cycling insole fits both cleated and noncleated footwear.
Working Out and Weight Training
Fitness centers and gyms offer an endless array of classes and activities. It’s important to to remember that injuries can happen while working out at the gym just like they can happen while playing sports, and that safety can begin with stabilized, supported feet. Aerobics activity including Step, Zumba and circuit training place repetitive stress on the foot, with fatigue also adding to the potential for both muscle and tendon strain. Activities involving heavier weights such as circuit, kettlebell or weight lifting stress the foot with both dynamic repetitive loading and static loads that often exceed body weight. These kind of force can reduce the foot’s ability to maintain its shape, leading to a poor ‘base’ from which to safely lift.
Your feet take a lot of abuse during the average basketball game.
It’s not atypical to land on them with an impact 10 times your bodyweight. Insoles decrease the physical wear and tear that basketball causes to the feet as well as help offset chances of typical basketball injuries like Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis and sesamoiditis. To minimize injury, it is important to consider whether a low-top, mid-top or high-top shoe is right for your position and style of play. We make insoles to fit low, mid or high top shoes.
Keep your beautiful game less injury-prone with custom orthotics
Soccer places significant stress on the foot. Tight cleats, fatigue and impact all combine to cause problems like heel and arch pain, Achilles tendon and shin problems, sesamoiditis (pain under the big toe joint) and stress fractures, especially of the 5th metatarsals. Our Soccer orthotic supports all of these areas but is compact enough to fit into your cleats. It provides a solid foundation for to the arches while staying lean in the heel and toes. An important component of the design is the extra support provided for the outside of the forefoot since this is an area that research has shown to sustains a great deal of impact.
Golf moves slowly, but it can fatigue the feet very quickly
Golf places stress on the foot that can result in pain in almost any part. Repeated twisting is always a factor, as is general fatigue from walking and standing, which diminishes the foot’s ability to deal with sudden torquing. It has also been reported in recent research that foot orthotics are effective at improving balance when playing golf, and many players report they have had great success with custom orthotics.
Every sport has a different impact on your feet
Each sport places its own specific demands on our feet and a specially designed orthotic is required. However many people play multiple sports and therefore a specific orthotic for just one sport is not the best solution. To this end we have created a multi-sport design that uses our sport-specific orthotic materials and a design that gives the foot a little more support and cushions than orthotics in our Comfort range. This orthotic facilitates normal foot function and is ideal for everyday use as well as sports.
Dana Jennings
Half Marathon Runner
I’ve had problems with my feet for many years, and recently, my foot pain became unbearable. I wanted to see a specialist but the truth is I kept putting it off… and I felt like it’d be so expensive, and might not even help. I ended up doing some research online and I found Upstep. Right away the first thing I noticed was how great the insoles looked. They were well-made, and the materials were obviously very high quality. They were really comfortable, and the fit was perfect. Then I went for a few short runs to test them out and my feet really felt amazing!
The Upstep Orthotic Effect
Orthotics have the ability to affect every part of the body by allowing the foot to function better. However, every person will respond to their orthotics differently depending on their needs. Commonly reported effects include:
Reduces Foot Pain
Stabilizes Foot Motion
Distributes Pressure and Absorb Shocks
Provides Arch Support
Prevents Rubbing, Blisters, and Fatigue
Reduces Heel Pain, Shin Pain
Have foot pain or ankle pain?
Tap on one of the pictures below and point to the area of the foot or ankle where it hurts
Arch/midfoot
Two primary arches located on the inside and outside of the foot comprise the midfoot. Poor foot mechanics and fatigue are the primary causes of pain. Common diagnoses include:
- Plantar fascia strain (Plantar fasciitis) - inside of the arch
- Insertional Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction - inside of the arch
- Dorsal Midfoot Interosseous Compression syndrome - top of the arch
- Cuboid syndrome - outside of the arch