Running symptoms do not depend on foot loading alone. We assess technique, load, footwear, surface, recovery and tolerance.
Runners often attend because of repeated symptoms, overload, shoe changes, preparation for an event or difficulty tolerating a previous orthosis. A footprint alone cannot explain training load or how the body responds.
At MEDIPIE we assess loading, gait, footwear, sports history, load progression and overload areas. If an orthosis is indicated, it needs to work with the actual running shoe and the patient's activity.
An orthosis may help when there is a specific need for unloading, guidance or tolerance during running. Design needs to be compatible with the shoe and introduced progressively.
Sometimes reviewing footwear, load, habits or follow-up is more useful than making an orthosis. The decision depends on the individual case.
The same loading image can mean something different depending on accumulated load and the runner's response.
Distance, frequency, intensity and sudden increases help place when the problem began.
Changes in model, terrain, gradient or use can alter tolerance without there being one universally “correct” shoe.
Symptoms at the start, after a set distance, at the end or the next day do not mean the same thing; rest and recovery also matter.
A 2024 umbrella review concluded that training, health, lifestyle, morphology and biomechanics may all be involved in running-related injuries, while also noting that the overall quality of available reviews was low and findings need cautious interpretation.
Another systematic review of trials found that foot orthoses may reduce the risk of some lower-limb injuries in runners. This does not justify prescribing them to every runner or prove that a custom orthosis is always superior: indication should respond to a specific problem and objective.
Sources: Correia C.K. et al. Risk factors for running-related injuries: An umbrella systematic review. 2024. PubMed. Neves M.P. et al. Effects of Foot Orthoses on Pain and the Prevention of Lower Limb Injuries in Runners: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. 2022. PubMed.
Yes, if there is a specific objective such as reviewing load tolerance, footwear, technique, asymmetry, previous history or return to training. In an asymptomatic runner we do not look for faults by default or recommend treatment simply because one measurement differs from an average.
No. Running-related injuries are multifactorial. Assessment can help identify potentially modifiable factors and guide decisions, but it cannot predict who will be injured or justify preventive orthoses by default.
Note your distance, frequency, surface, recent changes, footwear and the exact point at which symptoms appear.
Tell us your distance, frequency, surface, shoes and when symptoms appear. Bring sports clothing, shorts and your usual running shoes.
Clinical content reviewed by Juan Bautista Calero Márquez, podiatrist registered no. 115 in the Region of Murcia.