The Real Kait

As a skier and a runner, my knees have always plagued me.  It started when I was in middle school and playing soccer, when I would have to wrap my knees just to support them enough so they wouldn’t hurt.  Then when I was in high school, I broke my kneecap in a biking accident.  I’ve also always had ankle problems stemming from multiple twisting and strains when I was dancing.  To top it all off, I am naturally flat-footed.  In fact, my feet are so flat that if I leave a footprint you can see the whole outline of my foot, and no arch.

Needless to say, that triple threat has made my sports less than comfortable for me.  I’ve tried different shoes, custom inserts and various other tactics to try to decrease the pain that impact-heavy running and skiing always causes.

But recently, I actually found a solution.  At first, I thought it was too good to be true, but after a few months of consistent runs, I am pleased to say that I have almost completely eliminated the pain in my knees, ankles and feet.

What is my secret?  I started using GelThotics inserts.

They are essentially an S-shaped piece of gel that fits in your shoe under the manufacturer’s insole that cradles your heel and supports your arch (or lack of one).  They are just soft enough to give on high impact sports like running but solid enough to give support on others like biking and the elliptical.

(Click here to see how they work.)

At first, they made my feet ache after long periods because of my flat-footedness but when I would run, it would absorb some of the pressure of my knees, so I stuck with them.  After a little while and my feet adjusted, the inserts have improved my spring step allowing me to correct my stride so that I can run faster easier without feeling like my feet are slapping the pavement and my heels are taking the brunt of the pressure.

The only correction I would have for the developers is some way to extend the gel thinly in the full shape of the shoe so that it can be cut down to fit the shoe.  The reason for this is that when I run long distances, the inserts slide out of optimal position so I have to readjust.   Either that or find a way to secure the insert to the shoe or insoles to prevent movement.

I just wanted to share with you all how pleased I am to finally be running pain-free after all these years.  And hopefully, my knees will last longer than the usual lifespan of a typical runner/skier.

(Check out their site and the insert here.)

What do you use to alleviate knee, ankle or foot pain?