Do you play sports? Football? Baseball? Tennis? If so, according to Podiatrist Steve Rosenberg, a solid, balanced foundation from the feet up is essential for optimal performance in your sport of choice.
If your feet don’t maintain their proper position when you stand, walk or run, then you will not remain in balance. This imbalance and instability will affect how you bat, field a play, throw a pass, or hit a return shot on the court. A weak lower extremity foundation can lead to increased stress on your muscles and a higher risk of overuse injuries.
Therefore, it’s important to determine what type of foot structure you have, such as flat feet or high arches. Both of these foot structure types can affect how you play.
People with flat feet often overpronate when they walk – meaning their heels or ankles tip inward, causing the muscles in their lower legs to pull and their knees to turn inward. People with flat feet often have decreased stability in their knees, walk with a shorter stride and have poorer balance. Rosenberg says flat feet can affect how a quarterback throws, how a pitcher pitches, or how a tennis player hits the ball.
If you have flat feet, you’re more prone to knee, hip and lower back pain. Plus, you may develop heel or arch pain, plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, shin splints and/or tendonitis.
Having high arches is less common than having flat feet. However, high arches can cause more foot pain because of the stress placed on the metatarsals. People with high arches have a shortened foot length; therefore, it can be more difficult to properly fit their shoes. Also their feet will feel stiffer and less mobile. People with high arches are more prone to metatarsal head bursitis, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, ankle sprains and other lower limb injuries.
Custom Orthotics Increase Balance and Stability
As Rosenberg states, an orthotic device can help balance and support an athlete’s feet while he/she plays.
There are many different types of arch supports and custom orthotics.
Over-the-counter (OTC) arch supports are not true orthotics since they are not custom made. These supports are mass produced into mirror-matched images of the foot. Since they’re not customized to the specifications of your individual feet, they won’t provide you with the long-term support your feet need.
A custom orthotic, like the ezWalker® Performance Insole, provides your feet with the support they need to help you maintain your balance and stability. Unlike OTC arch supports, ezWalker® insoles are made specifically for each of your feet using our unique biomechanical non-weight-bearing casting method. This 7-step custom impression foam process controls the hind foot and allows proper function of the first metatarsal joint – creating a better step with each step you take. The ezWalker® insole is biomechanically designed to help support the medial, lateral and trans-metatarsal arches of your feet, providing functional support. ezWalker® custom insoles will guide your feet into better alignment; reduce the stress and strain on your leg joints and lower back; improve your overall posture; and reduce any foot pain you may have.
According to Rosenberg, once your feet are stable, your lower extremities will be stronger, enabling you to generate more power through your lower half as you play.
For more information on ezWalker® Performance Insoles, visit our website. ezWalker® insoles can be purchased via the Internet; therefore, anyone, from anywhere, can own them. These insoles are ultra thin and ¾ in length, so they easily transfer from your everyday shoes to your cleats or athletic shoes – saving you time and money. And since they come with a 90-day, money-back guarantee, you got nothing to lose. So order your pair today.
Because … when your feet feel good, you feel good. And your sports performance is even better!
