Your feet bear the brunt of your body weight through all sorts of activities and terrain; it’s no wonder they can really start hurting by the end of the day!
Depending on your health and lifestyle, the pain and discomfort can significantly dampen the quality of your life, even making it difficult to participate in activities you enjoy.
Insoles and shoe inserts were developed to support your feet and relieve the pain and discomfort from numerous conditions that many people experience and suffer daily.
Common Reasons for Using Insoles
Supportive insoles range from high to low volume and are typically used to treat many conditions, including structural misalignment, footwear fitting problems, plantar fasciitis, supination, or pronation.
Footwear Fitting Issues
Given the variance in heel and arch dimensions from person to person, it can be challenging to fit into mass-produced footwear, including heel slippage, foot elongation, and low or collapsed arches.

Arch Pain
Arch support with cushioning helps relieve pain from conditions such as plantar fasciitis, reducing the pain with foam.
Pronation
Pronation refers to the inward rolling of your foot when you step, which can result in instability and pain in your foot. Semi-rigid or rigid insoles can grant you the stability you need and prevent pronation of your foot.
Excessive Standing
This is a natural source of pain for many people, but cushioned arch supports may do the trick for you if it becomes a reoccurring issue.
Morton’s Neuroma
Nerve irritation resulting in tingling, burning, or sharp pain in your foot can be treated with a metatarsal pad, relieving the pressure on your nerve.
Metatarsalgia and Ball-of-Foot Pain
A metatarsal pad with top-coat cushioning is good for supporting and relieving pain from Metatarsalgia as it cushions and supports the arch of your foot.
Hallux Rigidus/ Hallux Limitus/ Morton’s Toe
To relieve pain resulting from Hallux Rigidus, Hallux Limitus, or Morton’s Toe, you will need an insole that prevents your toes from flexing.
Supination
Supination is when you take a step, and your foot rolls outward, resulting in pain or discomfort. To align your foot and prevent further supination, semi-rigid or rigid orthotic arch support is usually effective.

Running/Walking/Shin Splints
Flexible and shock-absorbent insoles are ideal for those who actively run and walk. Gel-padded orthotics or cushioned arch support is ideal for reducing impact shock and fatigue in your feet and legs.
Diabetes/Arthritis
For those with diabetes or arthritis, circulation and cushioning are important. Insoles designated for those with diabetes or arthritis have particular requirements – ask your medical professional about the right insoles for you.
Professional Orthotic Care with Pongratz
Foot, leg, and back pain are no joke, and you don’t have to scour the internet blindly purchasing mass-produced orthotics, hoping they might work for you. At Pongratz, we provide professional and customized orthotic care, ensuring that the insole you get is specifically designed for your body and pain relief.
Don’t wait – contact us today for a consultation, and we’ll get you started in the right direction for lifelong relief.