My answer: you may not need one, but anyone can benefit from a well designed insert. Many people who have tried inserts in the past have gotten into them from some type of running injury/ailment. But true benefits lie within a good insert's design + shape.
The idea? Keep the foot in it's natural position at exactly the right time through the gait cycle. There is much discussion in the running community about "over-pronation," but what should concern the educated runner the most is the entire gait cycle. Am I running efficiently through my entire gait cycle?
The answer for most people is no. It's really, really hard to run perfectly. + it's really hard to run perfectly all of the time. Very few of us do it, + if you do you probably have a sponsorship from a large running company in your resume. The fact of the matter is your foot spends 3/4 of the time in supination + about 1/4 of the time pronation (shock absorption). And this is where a good insert comes into play in helping your running be as efficient as possible. A good insert focuses on having the foot in an optimal position to absorb impact, roll to a neutral position + propel the body forward. The "timing" of your foot in your gait cycle is crucial to how well you run for a certain period of time.
There are many great inserts out there, but one company that benefits so many people is Superfeet. Superfeet pour a lot of experience + research into their products, but they realize if you support the foot properly you'll align the body. And this makes us better runners. Superfeet understand the idea that the insert can be a "timing device" to help you improve your gait + run efficiently.
So you may not have plantar fasciitis, achilles tendinitis or any other common injury, but a good insert can benefit you in the long run + help you run better longer.
Brent
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