The Fix

To Orthotic or Not to Orthotic

ith well over 30 running shoe manufacturers in North America with more than 400 unique models, how does a runner decide which shoe best suits someone who wears orthotics? And therein lies the dilemma. There are many reasons why someone would wear an orthotic, and some have nothing to do with requiring more support or stability. “For instance, if someone has a very rigid high arch, they’re not looking for an orthotic to give them extra support,” says Peter Charbonneau, a Canadian-certified pedorthist, “they’re seeking an orthotic to provide better weight distribution or balance.”

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