LOU vs others

Most of today’s shoes and insoles do not support the natural shape and function of your foot.

They force your foot into unnatural positions.

And dictate how your feet move.

So “preventing pain” actually causes you pain.

For example…

Cushioning isn’t clever.

Cushioning prevents foot muscles, tendons and ligaments from fully activating. While this may feel good temporarily, over time, soft tissue like muscles and the plantar fascia can atrophy, reducing strength and increasing discomfort. Cushioning can also aggravate the heel growth plate in children because the greater the cushion, the longer the heel stays in contact with the ground.

Manufactured arches aren’t magic.

The arch of the human foot is dynamic, meaning it constantly changes shape and height throughout the stepping motion. There is not a single design that provides appropriate support for the arch. The mismatch in shape alters the natural walking movement, prevents the soft tissue from absorbing and releasing energy and shifts pressure elsewhere causing strain and pain in the feet, ankle, knees, hips and back.

Shock absorption is shockingly not good.

Shock-absorbing insoles may feel comfortable, but they alter how the heel strikes the ground, how the foot absorbs force, and how the toes push off for effective forward movement. Insoles that absorb shock make walking or running significantly less efficient resulting in increased fatigue.

Carbon fiber isn’t that cool.

While carbon fiber insoles can enhance push-off for improved athletic performance, their extreme stiffness prevents natural toe flexion, which stresses the arch and midfoot bones increasing the likelihood of pain and injury.

Gel is a gigantic flop.

Your feet are full of receptors that provide continual feedback to the brain about pressure, terrain and balance. Gel insoles blunt this feedback and interfere with the body’s ability to sense foot position, activate muscles, coordinate movement and stabilize the body.

In short, over-engineered insoles and generic, under-engineered insoles (sold in both shoes and aftermarket) disrupt the feet’s natural biomechanics.

While these products are marketed to “correct” or “prevent” pain, they oftentimes create more stress and cause problems worse than the original issue.

LOU insoles don’t force your feet into unnatural positions or dictate movement.