Insoles for Hip Pain
How foot health can influence your hips
Hip pain can make everyday activities such as walking, standing, or even sleeping uncomfortable. While many people focus on the hip joint itself, the source of the problem is often found much lower in the body. Foot health plays an important role in hip comfort, because the way your feet move affects how your legs and hips align with each step you take.
Understanding Hip Pain
The hips are strong, flexible joints that support your body weight and allow movement in multiple directions. Hip pain may feel like aching, stiffness, sharp discomfort, or a deep soreness in the joint or surrounding muscles. It can be caused by overuse, arthritis, muscle imbalances, or poor movement patterns that develop over time.
When hip pain becomes persistent, it can limit mobility, reduce activity levels, and affect overall quality of life.
Common Signs of Foot-Related Hip Pain
Hip pain influenced by foot mechanics may include:
- Discomfort during or after walking or standing
- Hip stiffness, especially after activity
- Pain on one or both sides of the hips
- Knee or lower back pain occurring alongside hip pain
- Uneven wear on shoes
Addressing the feet can often reduce strain throughout the entire lower body.
The Connection Between Foot Health and Hip Pain
Your feet are the foundation of your body. Each step sends forces upward through the ankles, knees, and hips. If the feet are not properly supported, these forces can become uneven, placing extra strain on the hips.
Conditions such as flat feet, high arches, overpronation, or underpronation can cause the legs to rotate inward or outward. This altered movement affects hip alignment and forces the hip muscles and joint to work harder to maintain balance and stability. Over time, this added strain can lead to pain, stiffness, and inflammation in the hips.
Poor footwear or worn-out shoes can worsen these issues by reducing shock absorption and stability.
How Custom Insoles Can Help With Hip Pain
Custom-made insoles can be a valuable tool in relieving hip pain and supporting long-term recovery. Designed to match your foot shape, arch height, and walking pattern, they help improve alignment from the ground up.
Custom insoles work by evenly distributing pressure across the feet and improving shock absorption. This reduces the impact forces that travel up the legs and into the hips. By guiding the feet into a more natural position, insoles help reduce excessive rotation in the legs and decrease strain on the hip joints and muscles.
Over time, custom-made insoles can help support healing and prevent hip pain from returning by promoting better movement patterns and reducing daily stress on the hips. With improved comfort and stability, many people find it easier to stay active, move confidently, and enjoy daily activities with less pain.
Recommended Custom Insole Specifications
- Foot demands: Alignment, shock control
- Typical shoe style: Trainers, work shoes
- Shoe space required: Medium
- Custom insole type: Functional
- EVA density: Medium
- Insole length: Full foot, ¾ or sulcus*
- Heel cup depth: 20mm
- Extensions: EVA
- Middle layer: None or 3mm Poron*
- Top cover: 1mm EVA
- Design focus: Kinetic chain alignment
General guidance for selecting a custom insole
For hip pain
These are general best-practice guidelines and the most commonly recommended custom insole features. Final prescriptions should always be individualised. We recommend seeking professional advice and guidance where symptoms, medical conditions or complex demands are present.
- Insole length: Select full foot if the current insole can be removed from your footwear. Select ¾ length where there is minimal space to fit an insole into your footwear. Sulcus is between the two lengths.
- Middle layer: select Poron if shock absorbency is required, but this WILL take up space in your footwear when your foot is offloaded – please ensure you have adequate space in your footwear for this option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find clear, helpful answers to common questions about our custom orthotics, fitting process, materials, benefits, care, warranties, and more to support your foot health and comfort.
How do I order bespoke custom-made orthotic insoles?
Simply purchase our Bespoke Insole Kit. We’ll guide you through taking accurate foot impressions at home, then hand-craft your custom insoles in our workshop and post them back to you.
How can custom insoles help during leisure walking?
Our custom insoles provide excellent cushioning and arch support, reducing foot fatigue and pressure points so you can walk further, in greater comfort, and enjoy your leisure walks pain-free.
What factors determine the appropriate selection of custom insoles according to foot condition, daily activity, or occupational demands?
At Mark Smith Orthotics, we select and hand-craft every pair based on your unique foot shape, specific condition (such as flat arches or arthritis), daily activities, and occupational demands to ensure optimal comfort, support, and pain relief.
Why does shoe type matter when selecting and using bespoke custom insoles?
Shoe type matters because the right footwear complements your custom insoles. Stable, well-fitting shoes with enough depth ensure optimal support, proper function, and maximum relief from pain and misalignment.
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"Before, my feet hurt while hiking, gardening and caring for the horses and home. After seeing Mark Smith Orthotics, I can walk for longer distances without pain."
Val Bell
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"Before the insoles, I had foot pain from a flat arch in my feet. Now, I am pain-free, and can move without lower back pain and can walk further and faster."
Tom Cartner
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"Mark Smith Orthotics have now become indispensable by correcting my posture, straightening my hips, dramatically reducing pain during daily activities and exercise, and providing surprising relief that has transformed my workflow."
Mark Freeman
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"I chose Mark Smith Orthotics over other options because of his highly professional approach, the time he dedicates, and the excellent quality of his work."
Tayyab Talu
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"I have experienced a significant enhancement in daily comfort, a substantial reduction in pain, and unexpectedly straightforward ease of use, making these custom orthotics indispensable."
N. Douglas
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"Before the insoles, I had foot pain from a flat arch in my feet and sometimes lower back pain because I also had one leg slightly longer than the other. Now, I am pain-free and can walk further and faster!"
Tom Carr
