Flat feet - orthotics

[Pipboy]

I get incredible shin splints when I run so I went to a doctor and this is what she said:

Bilateral Flexor limitus
Dropped metatarsals
Bilateral pronation

She recommended I get custom orthotics. The places I looked around want 350-400 dollars. I can not afford this anytime in the near future and I need to be able to run. I'm in the process of getting into the police academy.

Can anyone recommend a cheaper solution? :[

 

[P-funk]

stretch

 

[33ecooks]

Yeah try these ... my son (has sagging arches) runs track and had some bulky orthos ($300) made were to solid and hurt him when he ran. I bought him some superfeet supports and his feet are doing fine.


http://www.footsmart.com/Product.aspx?ProductId=2229

 

[P-funk]

Please share.

a lot of times tightenss can be a cuase of flat feet....You might want to try stretching your peroneals and gastroc out. Also, really working on hip strength, glute strength really, to make sure that you are abducting and externally rotating your hip properly. This will allow for better tracking of the patella, less internal rotation or the femur and less of a possibility to pronate or flatten your feet.

I am just speculating though. I don't know if your flat feet are structural (you were born with it) or functional (you created the problem yourself do to poor biomechanics).


and in 3-2-1....DaleMabry will come in here and make fun of me for comenting on all that cheesey functional anatomy in the first paragraph.

 

[Trouble]

On shin splints: see (good explanation, treatment, avoidance exercises)

http://www.thestretchinghandbook.com/archi...hin-splints.htm

It's most likely your running style that is contributing to the problem.

 

[P-funk]

On shin splints: see (good explanation, treatment, avoidance exercises)

http://www.thestretchinghandbook.com/archi...hin-splints.htm

It's most likely your running style that is contributing to the problem.

I agree. It sounds like your poblem is brought on by improper biomechanics more then it is a structural thing. Your doctor is treating them symtom rather then the problem.

 

[Trouble]

Exactly so, P-funk. Unless the physician is trained in sports medicine issues, he may not be aware of the biomechanical causes (and there is more than one commonly present, including hip/knee and lower spine alignment and gate issues - note that there is a gate issue here). The suggestion for the use of SuperFeet by 33cooks is one that I will second, as its cheap and often effective means, along with a running surface changes) for treating shin splints.

If the problem persists, you may have see a othopedist or sports medicine specialist for a refined biomechanical diagnosis, PT/custom orthotics.

One more item: make sure your running shoes aren't adding to the problem.