Orthopaedic insoles? I only need them if I have totally problematic feet in order to get complaints under control - that's what most people think. Even some experts still believe that if you don't have any pain or extreme deformities, you'll be fine with conventional footwear.
Less energy loss
In practice, however, it has been shown that even cyclists with healthy, normal feet, if they still exist at all, can upgrade their footwear with ergonomic cycling insoles. This is because the insoles supplied ex works are usually completely flat and without any kind of footbed. If, on the other hand, the skeleton of the foot is stabilised and guided, less energy is lost and power can be transferred to the pedals without loss and in a more targeted manner.
Even pressure distribution
It is also good for the ergonomics of the pedalling movement if the leg axes run straight down towards the pedal - here too, power can be transmitted more efficiently with insoles that straighten the foot. Last but not least, typical overuse injuries then occur less frequently, as the pressure is distributed more evenly over the entire surface of the foot and the metatarsals sink less. This is achieved in different ways, the classic method in orthopaedic footwear technology being pads: These are hemispherical, ball-shaped pads on the top of the insole that support the arch of the foot. However, there is also the approach of using a plastic body incorporated into the sole to guide the foot skeleton so that it straightens up. If you already have orthopaedic sports insoles, you can of course also try them out in cycling shoes.
Standard, orthopaedic or ergonomic? These are the differences
Standard sole
In most cases, the factory-fitted insoles in many cycling shoes provide little support for the feet and put pressure on the arches. The insoles of the original equipment often resemble thin pieces of carpet whose sole purpose is to prevent the foot from standing on the hard sole of the shoe without any cushioning.
However, there are some manufacturers of high-quality cycling shoes, mostly with a click system, which to a certain extent include anatomically shaped insoles or insoles based on ergonomic principles (for example, the Body Geometry insoles from Specialized).
Orthopaedic - after measuring the arch of the foot
Ergonomics manufacturer SQlab offers cycling insoles for different arch heights and leg axis positions. The specialist retailer uses the so-called foot disc to measure what the footprint looks like and how much "spring travel" is still available in the foot arches.
He also looks at the position of the knees and tests whether the foot bends neutrally or inwards (pronation) or outwards (supination) when stepping. Depending on the results, he selects the most suitable insole from the range of different types.
Ergonomic - according to requirements profile
Insole manufacturer Solestar, on the other hand, does not assume that the insole should be adapted to the - often degenerated - shape of the cyclist's foot. Instead, a special "core" in the sole is designed to guide and stabilise almost any foot skeleton in such a way that it almost automatically settles into a natural, ergonomically favourable neutral position.
However, there are different types of insoles for different areas of use and performance requirements. The "Tour" model shown here has a fibreglass core that still allows a rolling movement and relatively soft padding. solestar.de
