Custom Insoles (footbeds), Orthotics, and Skating

by Peter Maisey

November 2003

An operation on my right foot at the age of twelve has left me with one leg shorted than the other, one foot shorter than the other, and a serious supination problem when I walk/run. This converted to a serious pronation problem with my right skate and a mild supination problem with my left. Great for turning left. But not so hot turning right. Finally, increasing occurrences of niggling injuries impacting my running made me visit a podiatrist (foot specialist). The result was a pair of orthotic inserts to go into my shoes.

Custom orthotic - click for a larger picture

Of course I was very keen to see if they had any effect on my skating, so I replaced the existing insoles from my skates with the orthotics. The impact was immediate. The supination and pronation vanished, and I no longer had to stuff a big pad down the outside of my right foot to keep the skate upright. Skating was more comfortable, as the orthotics had been moulded from a plaster cast made of my foot, and therefore fitted me like a glove.

Skating problems solved. Well, not quite solved. Changing the inserts between shoes and skates was, quite frankly, a bit of a nuisance, and not particularly easy. Solution? Get a second pair? But orthotics are not cheap, even a second copy. So I decided to have a go at a heat moulded pair of insoles from a local ski shop. Firstly I stood on what looked like a plastic bag pumped fully of some putty like substance, making a foot shaped dip in the bag. Then I had to stand on the same spot, on the heated inserts for 20 minutes, bare foot, in the middle of a shop, with hundreds of shoppers passing by, as the inserts moulded to the shape of my feet. Once cool, the inserts were popped into my boots and I was ready to skate. (The price varies from shop to shop, but I have found them from £25 - £40.)

Custom ski footbed - click for a larger picture

So how do the orthotics and the heat moulded inserts differ?

Firstly price. The orthotics were five times more expensive, and I had to wait six weeks for an appointment, followed by a four week wait to have them made. The heat moulded inserts took about an hour of my time.

Secondly the structure. The orthotics have a hard heel cup, but all other material is soft. The heat moulded inserts consist of a hard moulded plastic base with a softer layer of material for my foot to rest on.

Thirdly, and most important, the performance.

The orthotics stopped the pronation and supination problems immediately. They were incredibly comfortable as well. But, they were actually too soft, and as a result, I had problems controlling the skates. Each time I pushed on a skate, it twisted under the pressure. I lost power and precision. Brilliant for my running shoes, hopeless for my skates.

With the heat moulded inserts, on the other hand, I felt more in control. I was able to feel the action of the skate much better. And the comfort was almost as good as the orthotics. I have not been able to test the inserts outside due to the inclemency of the weather, but indoors they are still more comfortable than the original inserts supplied with the skates. The moulded inserts have not cured the pronation and supination problems, but have reduced them considerably. I do not bother to put pads down the inside of the skates when skating indoors, but will do so when I plan to do some longer skates outside, albeit with much smaller pads.

Conclusion.

If you have problems with skates I think moulded inserts can go a long way to solving them. The bed is the shape of your foot, which should increase comfort. Mild foot problems can probably be smoothed out. Even with serious foot problems such as mine, moulded inserts seem to be able to reduce them. I don't think I will be skating without moulded inserts in the future. I consider it money well spent.