Foot pain and related issues are surprisingly common in Australia. When the Australian Podiatry Association ran a nation-wide survey, they found that almost one in ten Australians reported heel pain, 6% reported dealing with plantar fasciitis, and almost one in five dealt with knee pain.
That’s a lot of Australians going about their days in pain, and anyone who has dealt with issues such as plantar fasciitis knows just how painful and frustrating that can be.
One of the best ways to prevent foot pain, as well as manage and treat it, is to choose supportive footwear. From your exercise shoes to your thongs, supportive footwear can greatly improve your foot health, and help to reduce pain and issues stemming from poor alignment.
Podiatrist recommended insoles can be an essential part of ensuring your footwear is as supportive and beneficial as possible, and at Lightfeet, our arch support insoles aren’t just recommended by podiatrists – they’re designed by them.
Here’s everything that you will need to know about what insoles are, and which ones might be best for your feet.
What are insoles?
Insoles are thin pads that are placed inside your shoes to add extra comfort and support to your footwear.
They can be anything from a simple thin layer of padding, to advanced designed insoles that help to align and support your feet to minimise pain and injuries. Lightfeet’s podiatrist-designed arch support insoles are the second type, and are some of the best insoles in Australia.
If you have ever dealt with foot pain, or even reached the end of a day on your feet and felt the discomfort of aching feet and legs, you could benefit from adding insoles to your shoes.
Choosing the best insoles in Australia
There are plenty of insoles available in Australia, and it can be difficult to choose the best for your feet with so many options to choose from. If nothing else, the main thing to remember is to look for insoles that have been approved by podiatrists at the very least, or even designed by podiatrists as is the case with all of Lightfeet’s insoles!
If you’re looking for insoles for a specific reason or purpose, here are a few ideas to get you started.
The best insoles for plantar fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is a reasonably common inflammation problem that causes pain through the bottom of the heel. It can affect anyone, but is especially prevalent in those aged 50 or older, where almost 10% of the population deals with this kind of heel pain.
The method of treating plantar fasciitis is usually multi-faceted, but one of the best ways to treat this painful problem is to upgrade your footwear to be far more supportive. So it’s no wonder that many Australians are on the hunt for the best insoles for plantar fasciitis.
Our best plantar fasciitis insoles are our Arch Support Insoles:
- These insoles are podiatrist-designed
- They support the arch of your foot, which helps to align your feet and reduce joint stress
- The LIGHTFEET HEEL ANTISHOCK™ technology helps to reduce the impact of every footfall, which is important in minimising the inflammation caused by plantar fasciitis
- They are self-moulding, which means they will mould to your feet specifically for an extremely comfortable and supportive fit
Keep in mind, we also offer a slim fit version, which are the same insoles but in a slimmer shape for smaller shoes.
These extra layers of support in your shoe can work wonders for plantar fasciitis, and help you get back on your feet without the debilitating pain that can stem from unsupportive footwear.
The best insoles for flat feet
In normal feet, the arch of the foot is exactly that – an arch. When the arch flattens out with every step, it changes the alignment of your foot, ankle, knee, and entire system, which can lead to pain and recurring injuries such as sprained ankles.
A great pair of insoles will:
- Have their own arch built-in
- Push your flat feet back into the proper alignment
- Reduce the stress on your joints, muscles, and ligaments
That’s why, if you have flat feet, it is so important to look for shoes and insoles that will help to move your feet into the correct alignment.
Since all of our insoles are designed by podiatrists, we know that we have some of the best insoles for flat feet in Australia. Our arch support insoles are designed to support the arches in your feet and ensure you have the proper alignment for pain- and injury-free exercise.
The best insoles for wide feet
Insoles so often only come in one size, which can make it harder to find decent support if you have wider feet.
It’s important to wear proper fitting insoles because:
- They will provide greater arch support
- The cushioning will be more comfortable when it’s in the right place
- The alignment will work best with an insole that fits
- They won’t rub in odd places when they fit properly
At Lightfeet, our standard insoles are made to fit a wide range of shoe sizes.
The only product to avoid is our slim fit insoles, which are made specifically for slimmer feet and shoes. By offering a slim size and a standard size, our insoles provide support for Australians of a range of shoe sizes.
If you’re unsure about how a pair of Lightfeet insoles will fit your feet, feel free to give them a try. If you’re not 100% satisfied with your insoles, you can return them for a full price refund for our 30 day money back guarantee.
The best insoles for men
Whether you’re running regularly or working on your feet all day, unsupportive footwear can quickly lead to pain and injuries.
The best insoles for men are therefore any insoles that:
- Offer superior support
- Align the foot
- Add maximum comfort
Our Lightfeet podiatrist-designed insoles do all of this and more, with leading technology such as LIGHTFEET HEEL ANTISHOCK™ to help reduce the impact on your feet and joints with every step.
Our standard Cushion Insoles are a great choice for extra-thick gel cushioning that offers additional comfort and relief for day-to-day wear. These insoles use LIGHTFEET ReGEN™ technology, which helps move your feet into the correct alignment and offers energy return, making them ideal for wear during exercise.
The best insoles for women
Some studies show that rates of plantar fasciitis can be slightly higher in women than in men, and it’s also true that women’s shoes such as sandals and heels tend to be less supportive than men’s shoes.
As a result, many women may be dealing with foot pain, injuries and stiffness that stem from unsupportive footwear. This is why a good pair of insoles can make a significant difference in day-to-day comfort levels.
Here are some of our best insoles for women:
- Our podiatrist-designed Cushion Insoles can be a great help to any woman who is on her feet all day, or who would like to make her casual sneakers and shoes more comfortable for regular wear.
- For sports shoes intended for exercise, our Arch Support Insoles offer more in-built technology for greater support, such as LIGHTFEET HEEL ANTISHOCK™ technology, which reduces the impact on your feet and musculoskeletal system with every step.
- Our insoles for pregnancy can offer well-needed relief from pain with additional support and cushioning. Due to the changes in the body and the additional weight of carrying a baby, pregnant women often experience sore, aching feet.
The best insoles for walking and standing all day
Many jobs require workers to be on their feet all day, and for those working on hard floors and concrete especially, this can lead to aches and pains that last all evening, as well as potentially lead to injuries.
If you spend all day standing on your feet and just want to feel more comfortable, a simple cushion insole will add premium cushioning to your shoes.
- These insoles have been designed by podiatrists
- They are made to provide comfort and relief with their gel inserts and self-moulding memory foam
- With their extra padding, they will relieve the pressure on your feet and knees, and help to reduce any aches and pains from spending hours on your feet
For those who spend most of the day walking around, our walking insoles might be the best option for your feet. In particular, our Rebound Insoles help you to bounce back with every step with our state-of-the-art ReGen™ Energy Return Foam. They are also self-moulding, and are in-built with impact reduction technology to reduce the strain on your feet and joints, and to improve muscle efficiency so you don’t have to deal with aches and pains every day.
Final thoughts
Our podiatrist recommended orthotics and insoles can make a huge difference for anyone, whether you’re already dealing with flat feet, plantar fasciitis, or generalised foot pain.
With additional cushioning for comfort, alignment to move your feet into the correct position, and cutting-edge technology that actively reduces the impact on your feet and body, our podiatrist-designed line of insoles can make a world of difference to your everyday comfort.
Try them today, and if you’re not 100% satisfied, we’ll give you your money back.