Custom-made insoles may ease certain foot pain

By Amy Norton NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Custom-fit insoles may help ease foot pain caused by high arches, rheumatoid arthritis and certain other conditions, a research review suggests. Australian researchers found that in 11 clinical trials, custom-designed orthotic devices for the shoes helped ease certain forms of foot pain. One study, for instance, showed that within 3 months, the shoe inserts improved pain in adults with abnormally high arches. Another study, of 209 adults younger than 60, found that custom orthoses eased pain from bunions -- though they did not appear to be as effective as surgery in the long run. Custom orthoses are shoe inserts that are prescribed by a doctor and designed based on an impression taken of the patient's feet. They are widely used, but few well-designed clinical trials have been done to... [read full story]