Anyone have some input on orthotics for tennis?

swizzy

Hall of Fame
My wife just got some orthotics not for sport.. and she loves them. Would these help for some of the foot abuse we go through playing tennis? Anyone care to share some information on whether these were helpful or recommended for tennis? I would do anything to keep playing for another 40 years.. thanks. I am pretty ignorant on the subject and would welcome any input at all. happy wimbledons eve
 

marc45

G.O.A.T.
My wife just got some orthotics not for sport.. and she loves them. Would these help for some of the foot abuse we go through playing tennis? Anyone care to share some information on whether these were helpful or recommended for tennis? I would do anything to keep playing for another 40 years.. thanks. I am pretty ignorant on the subject and would welcome any input at all. happy wimbledons eve

have worn custom orthotics for years..haven't been playing tennis, but certainly use them for my workouts..never don't wear them, other than slippers at night...don't see why she shouldn't play tennis with them, but a foot doctor can always be asked
 

swizzy

Hall of Fame
i am going for an appointment in a week. just looking to ask some of the experts on here for their perspective. thanks all
 

Mr.Lob

G.O.A.T.
Orthotics as preventive maintenance? I wouldn't go that route. Stretching and strengthening exercises will get you 40 more years.
 

swizzy

Hall of Fame
i'll be 50 soon and have been pretty blessed all theses years.. just looking to play into my 90's... i can't believe no one has any input on or uses orthotics for tennis. i should have started a goat thread and asked for orthotics experiences as an add-on...
 

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
i'll be 50 soon and have been pretty blessed all theses years.. just looking to play into my 90's... i can't believe no one has any input on or uses orthotics for tennis. i should have started a goat thread and asked for orthotics experiences as an add-on...
Wore and continue to wear graphite custom sport orthotics for over 15 years. Excellent for har-tru. Tough on cement, no cushioning.
 

swizzy

Hall of Fame
had my appointment..and i missed it. got caught up in the nadal/young match,, but, they had an opening at 4:15 and i went in. my insurance covers orthotics so it was a no brainer. the doctor [maybe looking out for his best interests] says everyone would benefit from a custom pair of orthotics...
"all feet are like snowflakes..and none are properly supported"..... doctor scholls and the other companies make their living because most insurance plans don't cover orthotics. gonna cost $45 all said and done for the 3 visits and i should notice a quite a bit of relief pretty instantly.. i'll make an update when the molds are done and they are delivered..something like 2 weeks.. my wife continues to love hers..helped her posture and was causing her back pain..currently gone. my pain is in the feet and he said tennis is really hard on shoes and the feet in the shoes.
 

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
had my appointment..and i missed it. got caught up in the nadal/young match,, but, they had an opening at 4:15 and i went in. my insurance covers orthotics so it was a no brainer. the doctor [maybe looking out for his best interests] says everyone would benefit from a custom pair of orthotics...
"all feet are like snowflakes..and none are properly supported"..... doctor scholls and the other companies make their living because most insurance plans don't cover orthotics. gonna cost $45 all said and done for the 3 visits and i should notice a quite a bit of relief pretty instantly.. i'll make an update when the molds are done and they are delivered..something like 2 weeks.. my wife continues to love hers..helped her posture and was causing her back pain..currently gone. my pain is in the feet and he said tennis is really hard on shoes and the feet in the shoes.
2 weeks?
 

mctennis

Legend
Yes, it takes a couple of weeks to make and get into the office custom orthotics. I have been using them for years with great results. It will take a while to get used to them. More of a using them fir a few hours a day thing mostly. I would imagine most pros actually use orthotics. I've seen a few of them put their orthotics in their shoes when they switch over their shoes during a break between sets.
 

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
Yes, it takes a couple of weeks to make and get into the office custom orthotics. I have been using them for years with great results. It will take a while to get used to them. More of a using them fir a few hours a day thing mostly. I would imagine most pros actually use orthotics. I've seen a few of them put their orthotics in their shoes when they switch over their shoes during a break between sets.
Years ago there was a thread about Djoker's orthotics.
 

swizzy

Hall of Fame
thanks for the input,, i wouldn't have really thought about it much...but my wife has been raving about hers..and i always assumed that foot pain was a normal part of screeching halts and rapid change of direction while pounding on hard courts..
i will search the archive on djokers orthos.
 

swizzy

Hall of Fame
took a bit longer than they said.. but i pick them up monday.. have 4 matches scheduled next week so i will have some feedback for the offing.
 

Ramon

Legend
There's 2 very different schools of thought here. The traditional way is use artificial devices like orthotics to make corrections for whatever is wrong with your foot, posture, or gait. There's a lot of money to be made this way because custom orthotics and visits to the doctor cost hundreds of dollars and quickly adds up. Then there's the naturalist school of thought that says orthotics actually make you dependent on them and weaken the foot. Your doctor will never tell you that for obvious reasons. The natural people would advise walking on your bare feet as much as possible, picking up things with your toes, and wearing flat shoes with no arch support. They also advise you to land on your forefoot, not your heels, when you run because that's a natural way to run which protects your joints. Some actually tell you run barefoot. They have their own set of evidence that you can find if you search the web.

Personally, I've gone back and forth, but right now I lean towards the natural way. At 52, I know my body doesn't function like it did in my 20's, but I don't want to be dependent on artificial devices so I can still be active into my 80's and beyond. A few years ago, my feet would hurt after playing tennis, and the cure seemed to be getting sport orthotics from companies like Superfeet. As an added benefit, they filled out my shoes better for my narrow feet. However, I've become conscious lately about not getting dependent on them. Now I walk around in bare feet at home, and I wear flat shoes with little to no arch support to work and to the gym. Any running I do is done with minimal shoes and a forefoot strike. My feet have adjusted and I'm feeling fine. I played tennis without arch supports a few times, and my feet felt fine. However, I'm using a pair of Superfeet with my present pair right now just because it fills out my shoes for a better fit and my narrow feet are more contained.
 

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
There's 2 very different schools of thought here. The traditional way is use artificial devices like orthotics to make corrections for whatever is wrong with your foot, posture, or gait. There's a lot of money to be made this way because custom orthotics and visits to the doctor cost hundreds of dollars and quickly adds up. Then there's the naturalist school of thought that says orthotics actually make you dependent on them and weaken the foot. Your doctor will never tell you that for obvious reasons. The natural people would advise walking on your bare feet as much as possible, picking up things with your toes, and wearing flat shoes with no arch support. They also advise you to land on your forefoot, not your heels, when you run because that's a natural way to run which protects your joints. Some actually tell you run barefoot. They have their own set of evidence that you can find if you search the web.

Personally, I've gone back and forth, but right now I lean towards the natural way. At 52, I know my body doesn't function like it did in my 20's, but I don't want to be dependent on artificial devices so I can still be active into my 80's and beyond. A few years ago, my feet would hurt after playing tennis, and the cure seemed to be getting sport orthotics from companies like Superfeet. As an added benefit, they filled out my shoes better for my narrow feet. However, I've become conscious lately about not getting dependent on them. Now I walk around in bare feet at home, and I wear flat shoes with little to no arch support to work and to the gym. Any running I do is done with minimal shoes and a forefoot strike. My feet have adjusted and I'm feeling fine. I played tennis without arch supports a few times, and my feet felt fine. However, I'm using a pair of Superfeet with my present pair right now just because it fills out my shoes for a better fit and my narrow feet are more contained.
Converse Jack Purcells must fit your style well.
 
Try Sidas or Footbalance custom insoles. They use a weird kind of silicone memory gel to create an impression of your foot to mold a custom orthotic. Costs under £50 and ready within a few minutes.

Also do varying levels of cushion to match your sport.

Used for ages and fantastic job although my Lynco Aetrex L420 are amazing off the shelf insoles that pretty much work as well if not better due to great cushioning. They don't bottom out and last about five years plus of day to day use. I've three pairs in rotation.
 

mctennis

Legend
took a bit longer than they said.. but i pick them up monday.. have 4 matches scheduled next week so i will have some feedback for the offing.
How has the conversion to orthotics gone for you? I've been wearing them for some years after my feet started really hurting after playing over and over again. I think they help me a lot on the court to keep from having foot pain.
 

swizzy

Hall of Fame
How has the conversion to orthotics gone for you? I've been wearing them for some years after my feet started really hurting after playing over and over again. I think they help me a lot on the court to keep from having foot pain.

i have to say it has been an obvious improvement..not just on the court. lower back twinges are gone.. and my feet don't cramp anymore. i have had them now for almost 2 months.. and beyond the early acclimatization period.. i have only positive things to say. anyone out there listening!! if your insurance covers orthotics.. than get an appointment and have molds made of your feet. they will help you
 

naturallight

Semi-Pro
I use the birkenstock blue orthodics. I would not be able to play without them due to pain in my arch. They add height and weight so if you don't need them, I can't imagine why you'd use them. Bad feet run in my family--both my dad and grandma have had surgery on their arches. Hope I don't have to go down that route.
 

WestboroChe

Hall of Fame
If you don't need them, I don't know why you would really consider them. I have terribly flat feet and really can't live without custom orthotics. They have made all the difference to me as I started developing knee pain in my 30's. When I finally went to the podiatrist he said I probably should have been wearing them since I was a teenager. That said, they are a total life changer for me. However if you can walk, run and play tennis without them I wouldn't bother. After all, people with hair don't go to the hair club for men.
 

haqq777

Legend
I only replace the stock insoles with Dr Scholl's active, even for clay shoes.
I ordered the Athletic Series Sport insoles. I wanted the Active Series but the guide on Dr. Scholl's website kept recommending the Athletic Series Sport one. I read up on both and both seem very similar. Do you know whats the difference between these two?
 

WestboroChe

Hall of Fame
I ordered the Athletic Series Sport insoles. I wanted the Active Series but the guide on Dr. Scholl's website kept recommending the Athletic Series Sport one. I read up on both and both seem very similar. Do you know whats the difference between these two?
I'm guessing that they have identical or nearly identical cushioning but the Athletic Series includes some anti-microbial treatment to avoid odor and foot fungus.
 

Fintft

G.O.A.T.
I ordered the Athletic Series Sport insoles. I wanted the Active Series but the guide on Dr. Scholl's website kept recommending the Athletic Series Sport one. I read up on both and both seem very similar. Do you know whats the difference between these two?

No, sorry, as I don't recall seeing them in stores. But I did try about 6-7 brands otherwise...
 

swizzy

Hall of Fame
If you don't need them, I don't know why you would really consider them. I have terribly flat feet and really can't live without custom orthotics. They have made all the difference to me as I started developing knee pain in my 30's. When I finally went to the podiatrist he said I probably should have been wearing them since I was a teenager. That said, they are a total life changer for me. However if you can walk, run and play tennis without them I wouldn't bother. After all, people with hair don't go to the hair club for men.

i always assumed the pain in my feet was normal from the abuse they go through playing singles.. i'm almost 50 and i run like a kid still.. but now i pay for it... well, not exactly. because these custom orthotics have really made a difference in the way i walk when not playing tennis..and the way i run and slam my feet on hardcourt.. i bought dr. scholls products in the past.. but these are simply awesome. all said and done they cost me three office visits at $15 a clip.. and i have definitely noticed the difference.. so glad i went in and had them done.
 
If you don't need them, I don't know why you would really consider them. I have terribly flat feet and really can't live without custom orthotics. They have made all the difference to me as I started developing knee pain in my 30's. When I finally went to the podiatrist he said I probably should have been wearing them since I was a teenager. That said, they are a total life changer for me. However if you can walk, run and play tennis without them I wouldn't bother. After all, people with hair don't go to the hair club for men.
Yeah, one perspective.....go barefoot a lot, let your feet work. I do this, but not for tennis.
And the other perspective....
An ATP physio told me there are only six or seven pros in the top 100 who do not wear some form of non-stock orthotic insole (custom or otherwise).

I use a birkenstock blue in my tennis shoes. I liked the superfeet blue, as well. But this is just for tennis.
 

mctennis

Legend
Yeah, one perspective.....go barefoot a lot, let your feet work. I do this, but not for tennis.
And the other perspective....
An ATP physio told me there are only six or seven pros in the top 100 who do not wear some form of non-stock orthotic insole (custom or otherwise).

I use a birkenstock blue in my tennis shoes. I liked the superfeet blue, as well. But this is just for tennis.
The six or seven that do not wear custom orthotics will wear them soon enough. All that pounding will take its toll soon enough. They will get them and be glad they did.
 

WestboroChe

Hall of Fame
The six or seven that do not wear custom orthotics will wear them soon enough. All that pounding will take its toll soon enough. They will get them and be glad they did.
That's what I was thinking. But these people play so much its a surprise any of them can do anything. I can't imagine playing tennis like these guys do for as long as they do.
 

mctennis

Legend
That's what I was thinking. But these people play so much its a surprise any of them can do anything. I can't imagine playing tennis like these guys do for as long as they do.
I agree with you. If they do not use orthotics I think their careers would really be cut short by a number of years. If my feet hurt my whole body hurts.
 
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