We were designed to walk on soft ground but instead we tend to walk more and more on hard tiled or concrete surfaces. This constant pounding takes its toll on the feet as well as the ankles, knees, hips and lower back which have to absorb the impact. This constant compression causes pain, discomfort and fatigue. Over time serious disorders like arthritis, heel spurs and Plantar Fasciitis (sometimes referred to as ‘policeman’s heel’) can lead to people having to take weeks off work.

We aren’t helped by our shoes. The foot has an arch to lift and support the bones in the foot, which in turn support the spine. However most shoes and, in particular, many safety boots have a flat inner sole, offering no support to the arch as it struggles to carry the weight that is being pressed down on it as we walk.

One solution to many of these problems could be Sole Mates massaging insoles. New to the UK, they use a bladder containing glycerine to provide support for the foot.

You can’t compress a fluid, so it won’t flatten when you stand on it, it simply displaces across the foot and, because it won’t compress, it doesn’t need to be bulky so takes up very little room in the shoe. The company says they are so thin that they can be worn in any type of shoe – even high heels.

The fluid moulds to the individual foot, providing support to the arch as well as the heel and ball of the foot. As the heel comes down, the pressure exerted on the foot, rather than pressing against something solid, is transferred into the fluid, pushing it forward so that, when the ball of the foot comes down, the fluid is there to absorb the impact and be pushed back to the heel for the next step. Therefore, rather than just cushioning the impact, the insoles act like a shock absorber, relieving pressure on the joints.

This constant movement, pushing the fluid backwards and forwards across the foot, gently massages the muscles in the foot, increasing the circulation, bringing more blood and oxygen to the legs and feet, helping reducing tiredness caused by standing or walking over long periods of time.