The problem being a runner, or for that matter anyone who participates in any sport at all, we are always looking to get that little bit extra and we are willing to accept advice from anyone who says what we want to hear. One such example of this is around shoes and orthotics. I recently fell into the trap of visiting a pod to see if I needed orthotics and was told I had a neutral foot but did tend to over pronate a little on one side. I got a bit freaked out and thought that orthotics was the answer (turns out it was an issue with my quads). 3 months later and I am dealing with a bout of runners knee. In fact since the time I started to visit a podiatrist I contracted my only running related injuries (I also was getting shin splints when I was advised to change shoes). So I spent a fair amount of money for what worked out to be negative effects on my performance. Needless to say I went back to my original setup and I am working my way back to where I was before.
Of course there are always times that orthotics or a change of shoes are necessary. A couple of my friends were getting large amounts of pain during and after running and this was due to the fact that they were over pronating. Switching to the right shoes made all the difference for them.
So I guess what I am saying here is for those people wishing to start running, before you start pounding the pavement, get your feet and gait checked at least by a reputable running shoe store (in Sydney you can try Running Science) or a podiatrist. Most issues can be sorted out with corrective shoes. Orthotics are really only needed if you have a serious foot issue.
For those who are already running and experiencing some issues, don't start with the podiatrist. See a physio first. The reason I say this is that a podiatrist will try to fix everything with orthotics and will have difficulty looking higher up the body. A physio can identify other issues such as muscular imbalances and posture issues that may be the actual root cause of the problem. If you are looking for a good physio, I highly recommend Justin Wray and the crew at Northern Districts Physiotherapy located next to the Ryde Aquatic Centre.
