Hi everyone. Just a bit of info to pass on regarding a fairly new design of insole that could help runners. As runners, I'm sure we all have shoe/foot/leg/body problems right?! I have tried for a while to find a running shoe that was perfect for me. I'm an overpronator and run mostly on roads and wanted support and cushioning and a great fit. Don't we all?? I was having heel pain, shin pain and felt that the shoes I had weren't helping (support). I have bought shoes following advice from a few specialist shops but still wasn't happy. I then read about Footbalance custom made insoles from Sweatshop. They are a Finnish design and made to fit the individual. I went to Sweatshop where you are introduced to the machine that designs the insoles. It scans your feet: arches etc and the insoles are made just for your feet, so each one will be different depending upon the structure of each foot. The process is very quick and I was given some neutral shoes to try out the combination on a treadmill, filmed to see the results and was under no obligation to buy them. Anyway, I did buy them and have now also bought new shoes: neutral for a change! The combination appears to be correcting my footfall and rapidly reducing the pains and niggles I was having. They cost £40 for a pair of insoles and in my mind the perfect way to design your shoes and much much cheaper than a podiatrist! It seems that the support shoes I was previously recommended were providing unnecessary support, when all I needed was a slight correction to my foot alignment. By the way I don't work for either company mentioned! Happy running.

http://www.footbalance.com/

Jo, I went to Sweatshop in the Metrocentre in Gateshead. They had only had the machine a couple of weeks so maybe your local store will get one soon?

James, how are you getting on?

The problems I was having with heel and shin pain all seemed to wear off within two weeks, and I love the combination now. Having got neutral shoes and person-specific insoles now, I can't imagine why every sports shoe (or indeed any shoe at all) isn't made in this way, as it produces a spot-on fit for the purpose.

Hi, I had real trouble with shin splints and sore knees before finding the right running shop with a gait analysis machine. They found that i over-pronate and then went to a good physio who referred me to my local hospital othrotics department. I got made-to-measure orthotic insoles free that the physio tells me are very good and would cost a lot normally. I always do specific stretches before running and haven't had any trouble since (two years ago)