What do people get wrong about insoles?
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
Japanese shoe shops and drugstores (Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Welcia, etc.) sell an enormous range of insoles, and people ask us "which should I choose?" and "will they help my foot pain?". This article separates what an off-the-shelf insole can do from what belongs to medicine (prescribed orthotic insoles).
Shop-bought insoles versus medical orthoses
| Category | What it is | Purpose | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shop-bought insole (general goods) | Cushioning, arch support, size adjustment (thickness), odour and sweat absorption, heel-height adjustment | Comfort, fit, hygiene | A few hundred to a few thousand yen |
| Shop-bought (classed as a medical device) | Some products sold as "orthotic insoles" are notified as Class I (general) medical devices | Spreading pressure under the sole | A few thousand yen up to the ¥10,000s |
| Medical orthotic insole (an orthosis) | Made by a certified prosthetist-orthotist to a doctor's prescription, from a mould of the foot | Correction and off-loading for deformities and conditions (flat feet, bunions, plantar fasciitis, etc.) | Covered by health insurance (you pay 10–30% of a cost in the tens of thousands of yen) |
- Shop-bought insoles are general goods or Class I medical devices, and cannot make claims such as "fixes pain" or "corrects bunions" (under the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act and the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations, Japan's advertising law). "Less tiring" and "comfortable" are as far as they may go.
- Arch-support types (which support the instep) can cause pain or discomfort if they do not match your foot. Break them in for short periods, and take them out if the discomfort continues.
- Against moisture inside shoes (see the article on shoe smell), an insole you can take out and dry has a hygiene advantage. Take it out and dry it every day.
- If pain in the heel, sole or big toe continues, see an orthopaedic clinic (整形外科, covered by Japanese health insurance). Orthotic insoles made on a doctor's prescription are insured.
[Verify] Check the classification of shop-bought insoles (general goods / Class I medical device) in the PMDA medical-device database, and the insurance coverage of orthotic insoles in the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's reimbursement documents.
Misunderstanding 1｜An insole will solve foot pain
Shop-bought products have no such effect and may not claim one. If pain continues, see an orthopaedic clinic, and if needed get orthotic insoles (insured).
Misunderstanding 2｜Arch support is good for everyone
Instep height varies a great deal between people, and support that does not fit causes pain. Try it for short periods and stop if it feels wrong.
Misunderstanding 3｜The thicker the insole, the better the cushioning
Too thick and the shoe becomes tight, the heel lifts and you get blisters. Take out the shoe's original insole and replace it, or choose a thin one.
Misunderstanding 4｜Once it is in, an insole can stay there
Sweat and skin oil make it unhygienic, and the cushioning flattens. Take it out and dry it every day, and replace it every few months to a year.
Misunderstanding 5｜If the shoe does not fit, an insole is enough to fix it
It works for half a size, but a difference of a full size or more affects how you walk. Get the shoe size right first (see the article on how to wear shoes).
---
Sources
- Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), "Classification of medical devices (Class I general devices: orthotic insoles etc.)" [独立行政法人医薬品医療機器総合機構「医療機器の分類（一般医療機器：足底板等）」]
https://www.pmda.go.jp/
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, "Reimbursement for medical orthoses (orthotic insoles etc.)" [厚生労働省「治療用装具の療養費（足底板等）」]
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/iryouhoken/
- Japanese Society for Medical Study of Footwear, "Shoes and foot health" [一般社団法人日本靴医学会「靴と足の健康」]
https://www.kutsuigaku.jp/
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
About this article
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
Follow the care label and the maker's instructions for any garment, shoe or bag. For expensive or sentimental items, ask a specialist cleaner or repairer.
Sources
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