Finally got round to seeing a specialist (off my own back rather than referred by useless gp). According to the specialist “god put my legs together late on a Friday night” and basically need custom footbeds.

I have to wait 3 weeks till they are made and he tells me I maybe in for 10 days of pain as my body adapts. I,m hoping this will sort the aches once and for all. Anyone had experiences ?

About 17 yrs ago had trouble with knees, first one then the other which made the sports physio suggest I should see a podiatrist. I’ve had orthotics ever since with no further trouble!

I so hope it will be the same for me, had trouble for years now, can’t imagine what it will be like pain free. Just hope I’m not getting my hopes up to much.

My youngest (4) had some made about a month ago and he adjusted to them instantly. Not had a single complaint from him.

Didn’t work for me, but standard Superfeet insoles did.
But I’d pay attention to your specialist tbh

I tried some and they put me in agony – chucked ’em away

I got some a few years ago after having problems with my achilles tendon. They sorted it out and have worn them ever since, I don not want to have that problem again as it bloody hurt

Back pain 20+ years ago and after an Aussie physio sent me to podiatry school in Manchester everything has been sorted. Stop being a wuss!

had some made after suffering with compartment syndrome in my shins whilst running. my leg would feel as hard as wood and I had a lump that came up everytime which was basically a tear.

had some orthotics made up and it sorted itself out. They werent the comfiest of things though as they were made from a very high density foam and were made pretty rigid. I started getting a lump on my instep from pressure so stopped using them. Then a couple of years ago I had some more made. These are made out of a lower density foam and are cut away to allow a bit of flex. They’re great and I put them in all my shoes now, although I find I dont need to use them on the bike

I had great success with mine (Stephen Jones in Southampton), sorted a long running injury I just couldn’t shake. Didn’t take too long to adjust to ’em at all no major aches along the way. I only used mine for road running after the initial phase. I don’t use them off road 1 ‘cos they don’t fit any of my trail shoes and 2 never felt the need off road personally

good luck with ’em

Thanks for the comments, mostly positive! Keith just been seen by the same chap, if they work planning on getting a couple of sets. Apparently you can get custom cycling shoes built if you have mega bucks

So been using orthotics a week or so, can’t tell yet if there are improvements, just feels odd. One big concern is they are leather covered and my feet ate really hot, god knows what it will be like in summer, afraid they are going to hum pretty quickly if I ride with them. Any tips for keeping them fresh?

DT78, we dont advise people to ride with them, and i suggest you leave them out if you wont be doing any significant walking. The orthoses can be kept quite fresh if you wipe them down frequently, they shouldnt pong too much! If in doubt check with your Podiatrist for his advice.

Had a pair for a year now and just bought a second pair, I do find them expensive @ £120.00 am I paying too much? or should I just stop whinging and be thankful my knees don’t hurt as much anymore!

Has anyone ever visited a podiatrist and been told, nah your gait is fine, you dont need anything… ?

🙄 yep.. told two patients that no treatment was necessary this morning.. of course they could always go to a bone cracker and have treatment every 6 weeks and declare that they never have any more problems.. 😕

So chiropractors is snake oil is it? I ask because I’ve had intermitent pain in my left knee for a few years now, and am trying to work out who to go and see: physio; chiropractor; podiatrist. I also have èxtremely wide feet and wondered if it could be caused by dodgy feet/ shoes?

i have worn them for about 5 yrs for to help with hypermobility/bad knees. Mine were made from platercast moulds taken of my feet. Through discussion with the podiatrist we agreed that I would get them ‘raw’ rather than with a coverin, so they are just that, hard plastic inserts that go from heel to in front of arch on inside and a bit shorter on outside. Spent quite a bit of time with him looking at my Spesh riding shoes and playing with varus wedges and footbeds. Ended up with no additional varus wedge over the inbuilt Spesh one, but blue footbeds, rather than std, which fairly closely replicates what the orthotic does to my foot

Had some NHS custom made leather ones about 20 years ago for my dodgy knees which were excellent. Leather eventually went hard and minging and I chucked em as I didnt have knee pain anymore 🙄 Bought some off the shelf insoles a while ago and chucked them after a couple of days as they caused more pain with than without. Referred to NHS physio middle of last year and showed him my custom made orthotics for my cycling shoes (Sidas footbeds) He said I could try them in my every day shoes but wasnt very hopeful. Knee pain completely disappeared since.

Im not saying chiropractors are purveyors of snake oil, just making the point that we’re not all out for profit, certainly not with the NHS! mansonsoul, get yourself to see a physio/podiartist for a full Biomech examination and take it from there.

Interesting about not riding in them, part of the reason I got them was my knees were ‘S’ing badly during pedalling, so was getting them for cycling to help straighten this up. Did talk to the pod about this, and he didn’t tell me not to use them for riding in.

MY son has special boots made with insoles to correct his knees and leg pains, he very seldom gets leg pains and his knees are developing well at correct angle 😕 As he goes to a special needs school he had all his appointment’s there so very positive experience.

Quite simply, the best £150 I’ve ever spent. I have been knee pain free for 12+ years. The NHS unbreakable ones lasted 2weeks.

I saw Steve “mid-air plaster of paris specialist” Boag at SportMed in Stockport.