We seem to be hearing a lot these days from medical professionals and health experts about the importance of preventing foot pain and injury through the use of orthotics.  What we haven't been hearing about is how to make sense of the various types of  insoles, inserts, pads, arch supports, and other orthotic devices.

There are two main types of orthotics: functional and accommodative.

Functional orthotics improve the mechanics of your foot and lower body; controlling abnormal motion and providing extra support. Arch supports are the most common type of functional orthotic, but metatarsal pads (useful for preventing and treating ball of foot pain), and orthotic gel insoles are also functional orthotics because they improve the ergonomics (weight distribution and alignment) of your feet.

Turf Toe Steel Insoles  are one example of an orthotic designed for a specific function. Turf toe insoles protect the feet of athletes who engage in sportsthat involve a lot of running and jumping from a specific type of repetitive stress injury to the toe joints.