Achilles tendonitis (also spelled tendinitis) is painful inflammation in the achilles tendon that can be difficult to recover from. Wearing supportive insoles can help reduce strain on your achilles tendon, allowing it to recover.
But which supportive insoles are best for helping with achilles tendonitis?
In this article we’ll discuss how supportive orthotics can help relieve your achilles tendon pain, and what to look for in an effective shoe insole for achilles tendonitis.
What is achilles tendonitis and where does it hurt?
Achilles tendonitis is inflammation to the achilles tendon. This tendon connects your calf muscles to the back of your heel.
Achilles tendonitis can cause pain in two locations. It can hurt at the back of your heel bone, where the tendon attaches to the heel. It can also cause pain higher up the tendon, between your heel and your calf muscles.
Achilles tendonitis most often happens through repetitive strain to the achilles tendon. This is especially common in runners who rapidly increase their training load.
People with flat feet or fallen arches, and people with biomechanical inefficiencies like pronation or supination are also more prone to developing achilles tendonitis.
SOLE footbeds come in three thicknesses to promote foot health in any shoe.
Can insoles help achilles tendonitis?
Yes! A good pair of insoles for achilles tendonitis will help reduce strain on the achilles tendon so it has time to recover from inflammation. This means that the orthotics should improve or correct any inefficiencies in your feet and lower legs that can place extra strain on your achilles tendon.
A key factor in this equation is getting an insole with good arch support. Arch support insoles help to reduce strain on your achilles tendon by ensuring your foot is working efficiently through each step.
The foot’s arch is responsible for shock absorption. Good arch support insoles can help your feet absorb the regular impact of daily activities, which can help reduce strain on your achilles tendon.
SOLE footbeds feature a dynamic supportive arch that’s clinically proven to reduce strain in the feet by an average of 34%.
This arch support means SOLE insoles are particularly effective for people who suffer from both achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis.
Custom insoles for achilles tendonitis.
Custom orthotics provide personalized support for your individual feet, to ensure you’re moving with total ease and efficiency and reducing unnecessary strain on your achilles tendon. Prescription orthotics that control your movement might cost hundreds of dollars.
SOLE footbeds are all custom moldable to your unique feet. Simply slip them into your shoes and they’ll mold to feet over a few days of wear. Or you can heat mold them using your oven at home.
Once custom molded, SOLE footbeds stay in constant even contact with the bottom of your feet. This allows the insoles to distribute pressure evenly across your feet, increasing comfort and stability.
Walking on this stable platform helps to transfer energy through the feet when standing on your toes, climbing stairs or walking uphill. This efficient transfer of energy prevents overloading of the calf muscles that would place more strain on the achilles tendon.
Insoles for achilles tendonitis with flat feet.
As noted above, people with flat feet are more prone to achilles tendonitis. Footbeds with the right amount of arch support will add more balanced and healthy structure to your foot as you take each step.
This will help reduce the excess strain on your feet and lower legs that’s often associated with flat feet.
SOLE footbeds are particularly good for flat feet and achilles tendonitis as they custom mold to the height of your arch. This means you can adjust the support offered to a comfortable level to your feet. If you have flat feet, we suggest heat molding the footbeds out of the box to get a comfortable fit as quickly as possible.
Insoles for pronation and achilles tendonitis.
Insoles for achilles tendonitis should also correct any misalignment issues, or biomechanical inefficiencies like overpronation and supination.
The SOLE Signature Supportive Shape features a deep heel cup that cradles and supports your heel. This heel cup combines with the arch support to promote neutral alignment throughout your legs.
With neutral alignment your ankles and knees are aligned optimally, ensuring that energy and force moves through your legs efficiently, avoiding excess strain on tendons like the achilles tendon.
Which insoles for achilles tendonitis?
All SOLE insoles can help you recover from achilles tendonitis and prevent recurrences. The SOLE Signature Supportive Shape makes SOLE footbeds a fantastic option as achilles tendonitis orthotics.
This means you can pick your insoles according to which will fit your shoes best. SOLE footbeds come in three thicknesses, Thin, Medium and Thick, to fit a range of footwear.
You also have the choice between two material types: recycled cork Performance insoles, and EVA Active insoles.
Whichever insoles you choose, you can rest assured that if they don’t work for you have the choice of returning them for an exchange or refund within 90 days of purchase.