Lateral wedge insoles

Lateral wedge insoles are inserts which are used to correct abnormal mechanics at the foot and knee.

What are lateral wedge insoles?

Lateral wedge insoles are devices which are placed inside patients shoes in order to control abnormal movement around the inside of the foot and ankle. Lateral wedge insoles are designed so that they are thinner in width along the inside aspect and thicker along the outer edge, helping to provide relief from the painful symptoms associated with excessive supination (rolling outwards) of the foot. The degree of wedging can be altered according to the patients' requirements and the severity of the supination.

What podiatry related conditions are lateral wedge insoles used to treat?

Lateral wedged insoles are particularly useful for patients suffering from the following conditions;

Osteoarthritis of the knee
Lateral ankle instability
Peroneal tendinopathy

How do lateral wedge insoles work?

The way in which lateral wedge insoles work depends on which area they are aiming to treat, the following explains how the inserts work when used to treat problems at the foot and ankle or the knee;

At the foot and ankle - When used to treat lateral ankle instability or peroneal tendinopathy lateral wedge insoles work by correcting any abnormal or excessive supination at the foot and ankle, redistributing the patients weight to the opposite side of the foot (medial side) away from the affected side.

At the knee - Lateral wedge insoles can help to reduce any pain associated with medical compartment osteoarthritis of the knee, by decreasing the amount of inward twisting which occurs at the knee due to improper biomechanics. This twisting movement known as varus torque increases the load across the knee damaging the joint and producing the painful symptoms. Insoles with lateral wedging correct this movement and reduce the misalignment at the joint.