What can you make insoles for summer shoes. How to make insoles for shoes with your own hands. How to choose and prepare material

An insole / orthosis is a removable structure that is located under the sole in a shoe and performs a number of specific functions. You can make orthopedic insoles with your own hands without much effort. If you use high-quality materials and follow the instructions, the product will turn out no worse than the store.

Orthopedic insoles are a medical device. Individualized orthoses are distinguished, made on an average block, but with additional elements that the client needs. Individual, for which the technician makes a unique last, taking into account the structural features of the foot of a particular patient.

The use of specialized devices is indicated in the complex treatment of various foot diseases. The design of the orthosis depends on the diagnosis of the patient.

The effectiveness of the product is doubtful, only a professional can calculate the correct ratio of the components of medical equipment, based on the results of the patient's examination, type, degree of leg deformity. Physicians see the designs as a temporary alternative to specialized equipment. The use of homemade orthoses in the treatment of children is prohibited!

How to make at home

Making your own orthopedic design is easy. But the effectiveness of the device is questionable. The diagnoses and the degree of violation of the ratio of the bone structures of the extremities are different. Even in one patient.

Incorrectly selected materials, an unprofessional design can cause discomfort, pain when using orthoses, contribute to the appearance of corns, and aggravate the course of the pathology.

How to choose and prepare material

The use of an orthopedic design implies prolonged contact of the foot with the insole. The material of the orthosis must meet the requirements:

  • naturalness;
  • hygiene;
  • must pass air;
  • ease of care, hygienic processing.

Genuine leather, cotton fabric has the necessary qualities. Experienced experts recommend using second-hand leather products, thick denim. Finished devices can be made of cork, plastic.

You will need a small roll of cotton wool, a bandage 3.5 cm wide, and a medical adhesive plaster. Leather products must be solid, dense, not have scuffs, roughness, bends.

How to measure your foot correctly

If suitable used insoles cannot be used for the manufacture of orthoses, then a blank will have to be cut from the prepared material. The feet should be measured first.

Measurement technique:

  1. Place your foot on a blank sheet of paper. Shift your weight completely onto that leg.
  2. Outline the foot with a pencil. It's better if an assistant does it. If you plan to wear shoes with socks, measurements are taken in them.
  3. Measure the length at the extreme points - on the heel and thumb. This will be the length of the foot. If the second finger is longer than the thumb, measurements are taken on the second finger.

Step-by-step instruction

Independent production of orthopedic insoles at home requires thoroughness, pedantry, step by step following the instructions. Otherwise, the use of equipment is more likely to harm than prevent the development of flat feet, inflammatory processes in the joints.

Orthopedic insoles can be made by hand step by step:

  1. Take a ready-made insole that is suitable in size for a particular pair of shoes.
  2. Set the bare foot on the object, transfer the weight of the body to it.
  3. Using a pencil, make a mark between the first and second fingers.
  4. Roll a ball out of cotton. The diameter of the finished product should be 10-15 mm.
  5. Attach the ball to the insole with a patch.
  6. To make an arch support, you will need a roll of bandage 3.5 cm wide. It is placed under the arch of the foot, forming a kind of step to reduce the load on the limb. Location, thickness, shape is selected individually. The main thing is ease of use.
  7. Secure the bandage with a plaster.
  8. Cut out the top from leather, dense cotton fabric. Sew on the prepared design.
  9. For the second leg, the manipulations are repeated step by step.

Which insoles are more effective: homemade or professional

Professional orthoses are expensive, especially for children's sizes, because the growth rate of a child's sole can reach up to 2-3 sizes within 1 year. Often, parents decide to make an orthopedic structure on their own.

The indisputable advantage of homemade shoes is their low cost, the ability to use the same pair for different shoes.

Advantages of a professional device:

  • made according to a doctor's prescription;
  • measurements are carried out by professionally experienced craftsmen;
  • a wide range of medical equipment depending on the type, the cause of the curvature of the bone structures of the sole, orthoses differ in shape, type - from arch supports for athletes, with heel spurs, with hallux valgus, varus deformity;
  • competent correction of the shape of the product when changing the arch of the foot;
  • homemade orthoses are not used for orthopedic shoes.

Professional devices are supplied with the manufacturer's instructions for use and care of the product.

In the treatment of flat feet, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, professional medical devices should be used. Especially for children's feet. Homemade orthoses can be considered as a means of preventing arthrosis, increased leg fatigue.

In what cases can homemade insoles harm

In the treatment of various diseases, pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, self-treatment, self-prescription of drugs, structures will rather harm than provide significant help.

The dangers of homemade orthopedic insoles are as follows:

  • they are not prescribed by a doctor, and an orthosis is a medical device with indications and contraindications;
  • in the manufacture, the real diagnosis is not taken into account, there are 2 types of flat feet;
  • it is impossible to measure all the bends of the sole on your own, take into account the correct location of the fingers, heels;
  • the design can injure the tissues of the leg, cause an inflammatory process in the muscles;
  • when using home-made structures, the distribution of the load on the joints and spine may be disturbed.

Homemade is not used in the treatment of severe foot disorders. Incorrect proportions of the orthosis will worsen the course of the disease and lead to the development of complications. Contact an orthopedist, select an individual design.

One of the important elements in shoes are insoles. Their main purpose is to close the seams and create comfortable conditions when worn. They can also perform various functions:

  • ensure walking comfort;
  • correct the arch of the foot;
  • evenly distribute the load on the legs;
  • provide an additional layer to prevent moisture ingress and retain heat.

You can choose any models of insoles depending on the purpose and the main purpose for which you want to buy them. But it is best to create them yourself. So you can choose the right material and adjust all the necessary sizes and shapes of the product.

Consider the simplest option for creating thin insoles.

Materials and tools

To do this, you will need the following tools and materials.

  • Denim or any durable fabric to create a reliable and durable product.
  • Sewing machine or a set of threads and needles for sewing.
  • Pencils, ruler, bar of soap to mark the material.
  • You can also use graph paper to build a pattern.

Manufacturing

After preparing everything you need, you can start creating the product. To do this, do everything according to the presented plan.

  • Put your feet on the paper, circle the foot along the contour.
  • Transfer the resulting silhouette to denim with a bar of soap or crayon. Leave a margin of approximately 0.5-1 cm for stitching the material.
  • Cut out 2 pieces for each foot. In total, you should get 4 blanks.
  • After that, lay 2 parts on top of each other, sew the edges with a sewing machine or manually. Iron all seams.
  • After that, insert the product inside the shoe, if necessary, process the edges.

IMPORTANT! The choice of denim is based on its durability and ease of use. This material is easy to wash and reuse.

How to make thick insoles

To make warm insoles, you will need to apply the plan described above. But as a material, take a denser fabric or add wool to the base of the workpiece. The set of tools will not differ from the way the thin version is made.

The most important difference is the use of wool inside the product.

Advice! Before sewing the upper and lower parts together, place the insulated material.

For diseases such as flat feet, hallux valgus and arthrosis of the joints of the foot, wearing orthopedic shoes or at least insoles is indicated. Not everyone has the opportunity to purchase such shoes, as they are very expensive. It is also not easy to choose orthopedic insoles due to the individual characteristics of each person's foot, so they are often made to order based on a cast of the foot, but, as you know, such an arch support insole will also come out expensive. To save money and get orthopedic insoles that fit your foot perfectly, you can make them at home. Do-it-yourself orthopedic insoles can improve gait, reduce fatigue and prevent progression processes in flat feet.

Often, orthopedic insoles are indicated for prophylactic wearing, therefore, by making such insoles on your own at home, you can not only wear them for the purpose of treatment, but also use them for prevention. Moreover, it is possible to choose the material, its colors, and therefore even get a stylish accessory.

Indications and features

There are many indications for wearing corrective insoles.

The main disease in which orthopedic insoles are the basics of treatment is flat feet.

Moreover, such arch support insoles are necessary for both longitudinal and transverse flat feet. With the 1st degree of flat feet, the use of an orthopedic instep support, the passage of a course of massage, therapeutic exercises can cure the pathology. In the 2nd and 3rd stages of the disease, the use of an arch support is necessary to reduce pain when walking, discomfort and reduce fatigue.

In addition to flat feet, orthopedic insoles are indicated for overweight, impaired gait, and rapid leg fatigue. Arthrosis of the joints of the foot causes pain, so special insoles for shoes can alleviate the condition and prevent the disease from progressing. Such insoles are prescribed after operations in the foot area.

Wearing anatomical insoles is indicated for both adults and children. An important nuance is that the insole should fit snugly in the boot, so both the boot and the arch support insole must be the same size.

If a person wants a fashion accessory and does not want to make it himself, then in such cases, orthopedic insoles can be purchased. Another way out is to purchase ready-made orthopedic shoes. Moreover, both summer women's orthopedic shoes and winter ones are common, so there will be no problems in selection.

Making insoles

It is possible to make orthopedic insoles at home if desired, while the therapeutic effect of them will be no worse than if you choose them in a specialized distribution network. It is necessary to carefully consider the manufacturing process, not to miss any nuances, since improper contact with the sole of the boot or leg can aggravate the pathology and lead to discomfort and pain.

The basis of the orthopedic insole-arch support is an old insole, but in good condition, solid, without roughness. You need to put your bare foot on the sample taken and make a mark with a pencil or marker between the thumb and forefinger. At this point, a cotton-based ball is attached with a patch. Such a ball is rolled by hand and in diameter it should not exceed one and a half centimeters, so as not to cause pressure on the fingers when walking.

The thinness of the orthopedic insole is the presence of a bulge in the middle of the foot, in the place where normally the foot should not come into contact with the floor covering. To create a rise in the middle of the insole, rolled cotton wool or a bandage is taken, which every home has. On average, the diameter of the roller should not be more than 5 centimeters. The made roller is placed in the place where the instep of the foot should be, while the leg should feel comfortable and convenient. As soon as the roller is well located, it also needs to be fixed with a band-aid.

The third stage in the manufacture of an anatomical insole at home is to fix the created structure. You need to carefully select the material that will cover the base of the insole. It should be remembered that the material must allow the leg to breathe, do not contain synthetic impurities and be reliable. You can make leather insoles, some prefer denim. The selected version of the matter must be attached to the base of the arch support, circled and cut out, observing the contour.

It turns out two components that make up the future arch support - a material with fixed bandages or cotton wool at the level of the fingers and midfoot, as well as a fabric that will come into contact with the leg. The fabric can either be glued or sheathed around the edges.

When the first insole is finished, you can proceed to the next. It is worth paying attention to the fact that for many people the shape of the foot of each of the legs may be different, so you need to make the second instep in the same way, taking the parameters from the leg.

Use of insoles

When everything is ready, you need to check if the arch support is suitable for use. To do this, you should walk, fixing the arch support in the shoes. When putting on the boot for the first time, there may be an unusual sensation, even slight discomfort. Over time, your feet will get used to it. It is important that there are no such signs:

  • increased pain when wearing shoes;
  • the appearance of corns, "corns";
  • skin irritations.

If these inconveniences do not occur, then no errors were made in the manufacture of the insole. When problems arise in the manufacture of the arch support or use brings discomfort, it is better to choose ready-made insoles, and there are also orthopedic shoes for women or men that already have an anatomical lining.

Of the advantages of hand-made instep supports, one can note their use in children. As you know, children grow quickly and their feet are no exception. Buying new shoes every six months or a year will not be cheap, you can just make linings at home.

Now consider the nuances of using orthopedic insoles, which are made individually at home. Naturally, to wear an arch support insole, indications are needed, so you need to visit an orthopedic doctor who will conduct an examination, interview and, if necessary, prescribe an x-ray diagnosis. Further, the doctor will be able to accurately answer whether it is necessary to use an arch support, and also select a course of gymnastics, physiotherapy or massage for treatment. If possible, you should show your version of the received arch supports to the doctor before you start wearing them constantly.

Do not forget about the contraindications to the use of arch supports. It is impossible to apply this method of treatment on your own with a hollow foot of the 3rd degree, heel deformity of the foot and other neglected conditions. As a result, if the arch support for shoes is made individually according to the cast of the foot, there are practically no contraindications.

Let's draw conclusions about the information presented. Regardless of whether the shoes are women's or men's, if you wish, you can make arch support insoles yourself, but strictly observing the requirements for the level of rise between the fingers and in the middle of the foot, as well as for materials for manufacturing and size.

Warm and comfortable insoles for shoes are an indispensable thing for travelers, fishermen, hunters. This is a very practical solution for children's shoes - if you change such insoles in time, the child will be able to walk longer and not catch a cold. It is not always possible to buy them in the store. If you have old woolen items in your household - do not throw them away, but make excellent insoles from them. You will need scissors, a needle and thread.

First step: cut out the base from pieces of old cloth, felt or woolen drape. You can cut according to existing old insoles or a cardboard template. Use a bar of soap to trace the outline.

After you cut out the base, make sure it fits well in the shoes that are meant to be insulated.

The second step: we cut from thin woolen things that are out of use (also beaten by moths - it doesn’t matter in this case), ribbons 1.5 - 2 cm wide. We weave them into an ordinary pigtail. Fasten the first three ribbons with a thread and a needle (you should also increase the ribbons as they end). At the same time, it is better to take them of such a length that they do not end at the same time - otherwise the pigtail will be fragile. To make it easy to weave, use a safety pin or clothespin at the beginning of weaving, with which you can attach the beginning of weaving to any fixed surface. It is very convenient to use the back of the chair for this. As the braid lengthens, simply wrap it around the back. For the convenience of further use, the pigtail can be wound into a ball, then it will not get tangled.

The third step: starting from the outer edge, we sew the pigtail onto the prepared base, moving in a circle, trying to lay its rows closer to each other.


Make sure that the pigtail does not turn over. When the rows converge in the center, the insole is ready. Sew on the end of the pigtail properly, grabbing each ribbon so that they do not stick out. If there is a small gap left, sew an additional piece of pigtail, also carefully grabbing the ends with a needle.

If you have a sewing machine, you can stitch the product for extra strength, but practice shows that this is not required, since the thread does not fray when hand-stitching a soft product, the insole remains intact during use.

Such an insole does not wrinkle, does not move out under the foot in shoes, it is very soft and voluminous, takes the form required specifically for your foot. If you make two pairs at once, you will never walk with wet feet.

Even the best quality shoes become uncomfortable when the insoles wear out. One has only to replace the insoles with new ones, and your favorite boots, shoes or sneakers will again sit comfortably on your foot. And you don't even need to go to the store to do it! The most practical readers can make your own insoles and save money on shopping.

Another reason why the insoles have to be changed is their poor quality. Most often, this is why shoes. Poor quality insoles can even cause allergies. If such problems occur, try to replace the insoles with new ones as soon as possible.

Before, how to make insoles with your own hands, remove the pattern from the old insole so that the new ones fit perfectly into the shoes. If the old insoles are no longer there, circle the sole of the shoe with a pen and evenly reduce it along the edge so that the insole fits inside.

Thin insoles

For shoes and other tight-fitting shoes, thick warm insoles are not needed. Make your own insoles easier than ever if you have a couple of pieces of tough leather of the right size (for example, the tops of old boots). Cut out new insoles according to the pattern and insert them with the smooth side out so that the foot slides easily in the sock.

Excellent hygienic insoles are obtained from old jeans. Cotton will allow the skin to breathe, and the feet will not sweat much. Cut out 3-4 parts for each insole and stitch it properly on a typewriter so that the insoles become stiff and do not wrinkle when worn. For the same purpose, you can use thick cardboard. Waterproof cardboard will last longer. Therefore, it is better to cut out the base of the tetra-pak insole and glue the denim outer layer to it.

Warm insoles

Winter is just around the corner, and we are much more worried about the question how to do warm do-it-yourself insoles for winter boots. If there is enough space in the boot for a thick insole, cut new ones from an old felt boots or from a piece of leather with fur, sheepskin, for example, an old sheepskin coat. Fans of wet felting can put their skills into practice in making insoles. To keep more heat inside, sew or glue a layer of foil to the bottom of the insole, and to make them waterproof - a layer of plastic tablecloth.

If space is limited in shoes, take a piece of woolen overcoat, cut out the insoles and sew them along the edge to the base of the tetra-pak. If there is a layer of foil on the bag, it will keep the heat inside, and the legs will be even more comfortable. If you find wool insoles scratchy, use faux suede glass cloth, denim, or other material as the top layer.

A Russian proverb says: "Never mind is cunning." Use your imagination to keep your feet warm.