Orthotic insoles guide
It's a sad fact that even in the best quality boots on the market, there is still usually massive room for improvement when it comes to the standard insoles or feetbeds supplied with them. Most people as they get older and maybe gain that extra bit of weight tend to 'over-pronate' - that is, their arch tends to collapse and the foot elongates more than it should during the weight bearing portion of the step. This in turn can lead to many related problems that are not just restricted to the foot as the body as a whole is thrown out of alignment. We see many people who insist they still take the same size shoes at age 45 as they did at age 18! This will not always be the case and many people prior to visiting us for an expert bootfitting are wearing badly fitting shoes and boots.

There is great debate amongst runners, walkers and footcare professionals on the subject of pronation and it's opposite action, supination. Suffice to say that not many shop staff understand the relationship between the two mechanical processes. In fact, during a normal gait cycle, the foot should both pronate to adapt to terrain and supinate when in the propulsion phase of the footstep!

The majority of people in our opinion would benefit from some form of after market orthotic insole to provide support, pressure distribution, cushioning or a mixture of the above. We take supplying orthotic footbeds very seriously and are aware many shops don't understand the biomechanical effects of them on the anatomy of a customers feet and body. For that reason we don't pressure sell any of our range of insoles but offer them only when we see a postive benefit. For any customers who are experiencing issues too complex to be addresses by a non custom orthotic, we will advise a visit to a podiatrist where a full functional assessment of their needs can be made.

We're of the opinion that the Superfeet Trim to Fit or SOLE Softtec Custom Moulded footbeds are the most cost effective remedy for the majority of people who are experiencing moderate levels of discomfort associated with over-pronation. There is a common misconception that soft, spongy insoles can solve most problems but in reality these often only give temporary relief and can in some circumstances make things worse!

Orthotic insoles work like an orthopedic mattress. A good mattress is made of firm, supportive materials and a bad mattress is soft and unsupportive. It's a similar principle with insoles and when you stand on a Superfeet or SOLE orthotic insole, you should feel firmly supported and stable.

There are a cross section of people for whom additional support in their footwear isn't the remedy for their problems. These tend to be supinators (or under pronators if you prefer!) who instead of pronating or over-pronating, have very rigid feet which struggle to flex and adapt to the surfaces they walk on. Very often, these folk will need additional cushioning in their footwear as they are at risk from a series of impact related injuries and complaints when walking or running. For them, we would look at a Sorbethane or Spenco product which is designed to asorb impact without drastically reducing the available space in the shoe or boot – supinators typically have a high arch and instep which can be difficult to accomodate in certain footwear.

Although technically, Superfeet Trim to Fit and SOLE Softec Custom Moulded insoles can be bought off the shelf and fitted at home, we feel this is NOT a good idea. The cost of the insole from us includes FREE custom fitting and a chance to properly assess the size and volume of BOTH your feet. All our staff are well trained in this area and can often point out any problem areas that may need looking at in more detail. We also have links to some fantastic local podiatrists and chiropractors who can treat any more serious problems.

For those who need a slightly more customised approach and who are initially loath to visit a podiatrist, we offer certain customers a Sidas Podiatech orthotic which can be tuned to specific needs and also has a metatarsal dome built into it which can be useful for the relief of certain conditions such as Mortens Neuroma. This is a painful swelling of the intermetatarsal plantar nerve often exacerbated by pressure from the toe joints adjacent to it – typically a sharp pain is felt between the 3rd and 4th toes which sometimes eases when footwear is removed.

Tennant Podiatry
We have lately linked up with local podiatrists, Bob and Paul Tennant of Tennant Podiatry. Their practice is only 200 metres from our shop and they have a special interest in biomechanical analysis which compliments the work we do here. They are very reasonably priced and can treat a variety of problems which might detract from a customer's walking enjoyment.

Davenport House Clinic
We also have a great relationship with Tony Gavin at Davenport House Clinic in Stalybridge where he runs a dedicated podiatry clinic specialising in biomechanics and with a distinct interest in sports injuries. Tony is a runner himself and has worked wonders with several of our customers who have presented with problems beyond our scope. After assessment and often treatment, customers usually revisit our shop to discuss their footwear needs and Tony's findings.

If we refer you into Tony's capable hands then we will give you a voucher entitling you to a half price consultation representing superb value. No excuse for not addressing any problems that we might spot during our basic appraisal of your feet at the shop!

Oldham Chiropractic and Physiotherapy Clinic
Located just over the road from our shop, this excellent practice has an interest in podiatry and they utilise a very sophisticated scanning system that together with their qualified staff can diagnose the more complex problems that we at Mountainfeet are not trained to spot. The results can then be assessed and high quality prescription orthotics provided if necessary. A chiropractic visit could be of great benefit if issues at foot level are referring pain or problems elewhere in the body such as the back or hips.