At Sole-Mates we regularly tour the UK demonstrating the benefits of our corrective insoles and visiting businesses looking for solutions to footwear-related problems. One of the questions we are asked most often is simple: how exactly do our liquid insoles work, and what makes them better than alternatives?
Let’s start by examining the issues that lead people to search for different sore feet remedies in the first place. Firstly, the design of the human body is optimised for walking on soft ground. With gravity against our feet and the whole weight of our bodies pushing down on them, walking on hard ground (as most of us do at work and throughout the day) creates a lot of pressure. The impact of taking a step on hard ground is absorbed by the foot as well as the ankles, knees, hips and back. If you consider the average person takes 18,000 steps every day, this can gradually take a toll and start to cause pain.
The problem is made even worse by our shoes which are rarely designed to support the arch and the additional pressure can result in the arch gradually collapsing leading to fallen arches – which can then lead to subsequent pain in the knees and back. However, what is becoming increasingly common, rather than a total collapse of the arch, the pressure leads to small tears in the Plantar ligament which helps create the arch leading to a condition call Plantar Fasciitis (Policeman’s Heel) which is extremely painful, particularly in the morning or after periods of rest and, if not treated, can make it almost impossible to walk.
So where do Sole-Mates liquid filled insoles come in? Well, even the best cushioned insoles with solid gel or foam inside offer only limited support for the arch of the foot, as they also flatten over time and the shape rarely matches your foot perfectly. Liquid has no defined shape so it displaces according to the pressure created when you walk, meaning it fits exactly as it needs to in a way that no solid insole can. Sole-Mates support the arch of the foot to almost immediately relieve the painful symptoms of plantar fasciitis, the long term issue is also solved after using them for a short while.
There are more benefits to Sole-Mates, too. The pressure on the rest of the body is also partially absorbed by the natural movement of the liquid as you walk, so pressure on your joints is also reduced. If you suffer from poor circulation in your feet, which can be connected to various health issues, liquid filled orthotic insoles will also help to relieve this problem as, when you walk, the fluid is pushed back and forth across the muscles on the base of the foot, creating a gentle massaging action which has been clinically proven to significantly increase circulation. Sole-Mates are also so compact and comfortable that you can easily wear them in almost any shoe, including high heels.
Finally, since they’re removable and last much longer than most foam insoles, you don’t even need to buy more than one pair to experience the benefits! You might want to anyway, though, once you find out for yourself how quickly our products could help you. Take a look at our liquid gel insoles here or feel free to get in touch if you have any questions for us.