Here’s a fact for you: More than 50 million adults have doctor-diagnosed arthritis, and it’s the number one cause of disability in the U.S.1. With over 100 different types of arthritis2 out there, it can affect the entire body, from your shoulders, hands, back, and hips to your knees, ankles, and feet. Symptoms of arthritis generally include swelling, pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion in your joints, making it a painful and often debilitating condition. But did you also know that shoe insoles can help alleviate symptoms of arthritis?
How Insoles can Help with Arthritis Relief
Most insoles for arthritic, diabetic, and otherwise sensitive feet are made from Plastazote, a lightweight and closed-cell foam. These insoles are designed to relieve pressure from the foot (an instigator of pain from arthritis, diabetes, and similar foot conditions) while also ensuring minimal skin irritation from abrasive rubbing of Your Sole Insole against the foot. The ProThotics Diasole Insole is a great example of an insole with these features, where the Microcell foam body allows for optimal comfort while helping to reduce foot pressure and skin shearing.
Insoles that are designed for arthritis help to provide cushion and impact shock absorption, which helps to minimize pressure throughout your foot. Some insoles are designed with pressure relief at the forefront of their design, such as the New Balance Pressure Relief Insoles with Metatarsal Support, which in addition to its foam body offers a raised metatarsal pad for increased gentle support for your entire foot. Other insoles focus on shock absorption, such as the ProThotics Comfort Gel Insoles, which feature Vygel pads at the heel and a polyurethane base for added shock absorption and padding.
You don’t have to sacrifice proper foot support to get cushioning and pressure relief, either. Many insoles for arthritic and diabetic needs, such as the Spenco Medics Diabetic Insoles, feature cushioned arch support and a deep heel cup to help keep the foot properly supported and aligned. These Spenco insoles combine arthritic and diabetic relief features with Spenco’s Total Support footbed design to provide advanced foot comfort and support.
Arthritis can make you miserable, but insoles can often help relieve some of the symptoms of arthritis in your feet and lower body! Be sure to check out our selection of Diabetic & Arthritic Insoles to see how insoles can help you!
The Best Insoles for Arthritis:
- 1. ProThotics Diasole Insole – Cushioned arch insole that features Microcell top cover with polyurethane semi-solid base. These insoles will help reduce foot pain designed to fit into both traditional footwear and “additional depth” orthopedic shoes.
- 2. New Balance Pressure Relief Insoles with Metatarsal Support IPR 3030– Cushioned arch insole that also features added metatarsal support. They feature a Plastazote top cover with additional abzorb cushioned layers for extra padding in the heel and forefoot. These insoles fit most athletic, casual, hiking shoes, and boots with removable insoles.
- 3. ProThotics Comfort Gel Insole– Flat cushioned insole that features a Plastazote top cover, soft, flexible Polyurethane base, and Vygel heel for added shock absorption. These insoles fit both traditional footwear as well as additional depth orthopedic shoes.
- 4. Spenco Medics Diabetic Insoles– Cushioned arch insole that features a soft, low-density PolySorb memory foam body, friction-reducing SpenCore impact zones, and a Plastazote top cover. Ideal for athletic and casual shoes, and boots.
1 – http://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/understanding-arthritis/arthritis-statistics-facts.php
2 – http://www.apma.org/learn/FootHealth.cfm?ItemNumber=977