I'm looking for a little help in trying to understand all the different types of shoe inserts that people use and how effective each one might be. I'm supposed to meet with a PT next week who is wanting to fit me for custom shoe inserts for $280. I have had achilles tendonitis in the past and severe calf tightness which he thinks is due to pronation. When I was young, I had custom (hard) orthotic inserts I wore in all my running shoes/reguar shoes as I had severe Plantar Fascitis at a young age. They helped immensely at that time but later I stopped using them and was fine for a few years until I had these severe achilles/calf issues. What I'm trying to understand is, how do the three different type (I think there are 3 types) of inserts differ and what is really worth it for the money you invest if you truly have a biomechanical type of issue that needs to be corrected? How is the custom insole this PT wants to put me different from the orthotic I had when I was young from the Podiatrist? And can the same effect not be achieved through a cheaper OTC insert in my shoe?
I would appreciate any help, OTC recommendations that have worked for you, cost comparisons, etc...