When I asked one of my favorite trainers what’s one thing he couldn’t live without, he said his orthotics. I always thought they were for old or injured people so I never looked into them, yet it turns out sports orthotics are great for people who are on their feet all day and for those who are very active as they can help to not only treat but also prevent injury. They come in a variety of styles to fit your specific foot type and footwear style (you can also get ones that are completely customized to your feet). Aetrex is a great brand that offers a number of options at reasonable prices. Options include metatarsal support to provide additional protection at the ball-of-the-foot and medial posting to gently realign the rearfoot and control over-pronation. They also have features on all of their models to help prevent fungi, bacteria, and odor, and they have a high-tech machine called the iStep that scans consumers’ feet to recommend their size and type if you’re overwhelmed by all of the options.
If you run almost every day like me or have weak joints, I’d highly recommend looking into orthotics to help ease the pressure you’re putting on your legs. For more on the topic from a doctor’s perspective, click here.