If you are a runner who is struggling with foot or leg pain, then custom orthotics could make all the difference to your training routine, correcting your gait so that you can run pain-free. Here are three ways in which custom orthotics could help with common running issues.

1. Overpronation

Overpronation is a common problem that affects many runners. The term means that the weight of the runner rolls too far over the inside of the foot and ankle as they push off to take their next step. This rolling inwards puts a lot of weight through the ankle and the foot arch, leading to injuries in those areas.

Arch supports are the first solution many people try to treat overpronation. While standard arch supports work for many people, they do not fit the shape of every person's foot. An arch support that is too long, too short or not lined up correctly with the arch in the foot can actually cause more discomfort than not having the support at all.

Podiatrists can supply custom arch support orthotics that are moulded to perfectly fit each runner's foot. If you constantly struggle with injuries to the inside of your foot or ankle, then the first step to finding relief is to see a podiatrist to ask about correcting your gait.

2. Underpronation

While overpronation is much more common, a few runners have the opposite problem: underpronation. This term means that the runner's weight does not roll in at all, leading to a sensation of running on the outsides of the feet, shoes quickly wearing out on the outside and injuries to the ankle or stress fractures on the outside of the foot.

Few running shoes are designed to correct underpronation. However, a podiatrist can supply custom orthotics to correct the gait of runners who suffer from this problem. Underpronation is most common in runners who have highly arched feet.

3. Neuroma

Morton's neuroma is a painful condition affecting the ball of the foot. It occurs when the nerves in this part of the foot become inflamed and irritated, something which can easily happen in runners who strike the ground thousands of times during a run.

Some people find relief from Morton's neuroma by wearing shoes with a wide toe box to reduce pressure on the front part of the foot. Others also need custom orthotics that are shaped to take the weight off the exact spot where the neuroma has occurred. To learn more about custom orthotics, contact a podiatrist.