Footminders Orthotics {Review}

Fitness and exercise are a big part of my life.  I enjoy heading to the gym 3-5 times a week.  I find that working out not only helps me both mentally and physically, but it also keeps me in balance.  Lately I have been finding that my knees have been aching and my back often gets sore after working out.  I have always had a problem with overpronation, and it doesn't help that I have flat feet.  I have been told that orthotics can really make a difference and I have always wanted to give them a try.  When the opportunity to review Footminders Orthotics came my way, I literally jumped at the chance.

Footminders Orthotics help to correct excessive pronation, provide relief from common foot problems such as Achilles Tendonitis, Heel Pain and Ball of Foot Pain.  They stabilize the foot in a way that causes the body to properly align, decreasing back and knee pain. Ranging from $21.95 - $27.95 per pair, they are an affordable and relatively simple way to make a difference in the overall way your body feels.

Additionally, Footminders Orthotics come in several different  styles to fit certain shoes and needs.

• Casual Orthotics - for men's and women's low heeled slip on shoes and moccasins
• Comfort - for men's and women's sport shoes, work boots and lace up shoes
• Catwalk - for women's medium to high heeled shoes, sandals and boots
• Kids - smaller in size and shape

I chose to review the Comfort Orthotics.  Sizes range from x-small through x-large.  I chose a small, which fits a Women's size 6 1/2 - 8. I am normally a size 7.  When I received the orthotic inserts and tried placing them into my sneaker, they were much too big.  As per the package directions, I followed the instructions to cut them down to a smaller size using the pre marked lines on the orthotics.  Even after trimming them down to the lowest line they were still a bit big for my sneaker so I removed the sneakers insoles and trimmed the orthotic slightly below the line.  After replacing them in my shoe, they fit perfectly.

The package warns that it make take some time to get used to wearing the orthotics.  It is best to start by wearing them just a few hours per day until you get used to them.  I will tell you that the first few days they definitely were very noticeable and took some getting used to, but keep in mind this may vary from person to person, as some people may not feel any discomfort at all.  The bottom of the insert is made of a firm EVA base. The top is a softer layer but not as cushioned as I expected them to be.  The heel cup is deep and certainly keeps the foot secure with no slipping.  By the end of about a week to a little over a week, I not only was getting used to wearing them, but I began noticing a difference in my gait, my overall alignment, the support in my arch areas and the decrease in pain in my knees and feet.  Walking just feels more natural and comfortable with these in my shoes.

Now that I am seeing a difference, I am going to continue to wear my orthotics as part of my regular fitness routine.  Many thanks to Footminders for giving me the chance to review these awesome orthotics -  my body and "soles" thank you!

Have you ever tried orthotics?  What did you think?      

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.