I was just wondering if there are any elite, pro, good college or high school runners who have orthotics. I wonder if any kenyans or El G has some. Does anyone know if a lot of them have orthotics because that would make sense to me because they seem to help, or do these great runners not need them because their running is so sound?
i remember seeing aouita always adjusting his in his spikes before warming up. he has the flattest feet i ever see.
Steve Magness.......according to his log @ joffroirunning.com
marcus o'sullivan.
There must be more well known runners who have them, just judging from how many serious runners have them. I have a pair, but they are kind of big and I have stopped wearing them, I want to possibly get a thinner pair that will help me. But I am also afraid of being dependent on the orthotics, I want my body to be able to run on its own without the aid of the insole.
I have one leg 3/4 inch shorter than the other. It has caused me a world of problems, especially in the marathon, where all biomechanical issues get exposed. I tried orthotics too, but also found them to be too bulky and heavy. They were pissing me off so much I took them out a couple of months ago. I would love to hear more on this topic.
I agree. I think they are overprescribed, esp. for newbies that need to go through the adjustment period of toughening up the joints, tendons and bones.
Besides, the old Dr. Scholl's arch supports and/or cheapie heel cups worked just as well, when needed, temporarily.
I've tried both the "hard" and "soft" and the soft were terrible.
I know two great runners who wear them, but one is older and never wore them until he turned 60.
I know MANY others who wear them in everything, panic if they can't find them, and are not particulary good runners.
I know Hendrick Ramaala wears a homemade orthotic that was given to him by a doctor specializing in ancient Roman holistic healing. After having constant problems in his early twenties, he got the orthotic and ran injury free. Last time I saw him, he was looking for the doctor who gave him the orthotic (he only works with the best, and travels a lot) because it was getting worn down (after about 4 years).
One of the best doctors I ever went to....
I got injured, saw a podiatrist at the recommendation of my PT. He did all the requisite measurements, found that I was right on the edge of having a leg length discrepancy that might matter. Then he found out I was doing 50 or 60 miles a week, and decided that it COULD matter. But instead of fitting me for $300 orthotics, he suggested I try one of the firmer store-bought insoles, the ones with the graphite arch. $30. And they did the trick.
That being said, there's also a school of opinion that some leg length differences reflect misalignments in the hip or back, and that stretching, exercises (yoga), and massage or chiropractic therapy will fix things without the orthotic aid.
I settled for the $30 insoles (which I don't race in).