Hello!
I'm Mariana, a biomedical researcher with over 15 years of experience. As a healthcare professional, I've spent a large part of my career analyzing data and communicating scientific findings. Today, however, I want to share something more personal - my own experience with foot health and how Sooley's custom-made insoles, powered by innovative 3D scanning technology, have made a significant difference for me and this is my article:

I made a 3D scan of my feet with my iPhone – and this is what I found out

In the 1980s, almost every kid I knew wore the infamous orthopedic boots that we all hated and feared. Some kids even used them as a weapon to break bones. They were effective for kicking, but not good for giving kids a nice arch to their feet.

Fast forward a few decades, after the dangerous orthopedic boots, medicine now recommends that children should go barefoot as much as possible and that shoes should follow the natural shape of the foot: flexible, flat, and with enough room for the toes to wiggle (as they do when walking barefoot). And today we know that the arch of the foot doesn't stabilize until puberty - hey, Mom, thanks for not insisting on the uncool, wallet-draining, bruise-inducing orthopedic boots when I was 4.

Flat feet can cause knee, hip and back pain

Thanks to Pilates training, I became more aware of my flat feet and tried to compensate with exercises and posture. But there was always this little voice in my head that said: "You should do something about the small hallux valgus (or elegant hallux valgus) that you inherited from your grandmother."

The orthopedists of the 1980s told me my foot was fine and there was nothing to do (except wearing those horror boots). And even today, the hallux valgus and flat feet don't cause me many problems, except for occasionally ruining some shoes. And I did wear those ugly boots for a while, didn't I?

But it is very common for people with flat feet to experience problems and pain in the knees, hips and neck simply because their feet do not align the ankles properly with the legs. This is where the problem starts. Some of the most common consequences of flat feet are plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, ligament weakness and instability, pain on weight bearing, rapid fatigue and medial foot instability.

According to a 2009 national survey conducted by the American Podiatric Medical Association, 76% of participants experienced foot problems in the past year, with heel pain being one of the most common complaints. A study conducted in Spain by Pita-Fernandez S. and colleagues found that almost 27% of people over 40 have flat feet. These problems increase in overweight individuals or those with bone and muscle deterioration.

Typically, treatment consists of foot exercises and foot orthotics or insoles – what a relief that the orthopedic boots from hell are no longer in fashion!

Exercise is important because it strengthens and improves foot health, while insoles provide passive support. Insoles can guide the feet into the correct position and help prevent further problems if we are unable to pay attention to our posture. Without them, we could stand or walk with misaligned bones and muscles, causing additional problems.

Foot exercises and insoles help

The use of insoles changes the geometry of the foot: the ankle becomes better aligned with the leg and less inclined. As a result, there is alignment between the ankle, knee, hip, back and up to the neck. This alignment helps eliminate pain and problems caused by flat feet.

For me, it was a small detail that I occasionally had pain in my legs and feet that didn't bother me enough to do anything about it - until I met Sanya from Sooley. He made it so easy to analyze my foot that I couldn't resist.

I'm all about understanding biology and how the body works. If the test isn't risky, I'm always curious and willing to try it. But I never thought about doing a 3D scan of my feet! I never thought it could be so easy to analyze my foot - from home, with my iPhone, in less than 5 minutes. So I scanned both feet, just for fun.

Podiatrists began using 3D scanners in the last decade because traditional 2D sole scans (or other methods such as carbon paper or foam impressions) no longer provide enough detail about the shape of the foot. Smartphones with 3D sensors allowed companies to use this technology to 3D scan feet. The Sooley app makes it easy to perform a 3D scan at home and provides the same accuracy as a scan in a doctor's office.

From my foot analysis, I learned that a flat foot affects hallux valgus. Since my feet tend to pronate (turn inward), the weight on my toe increases when the foot tilts inward. An insole could give my arch the support it needs and prevent the hallux valgus from getting worse. It could also strengthen my arch and prevent other problems.

Start using new insoles – don’t do what I did

The first few days with my new, custom-made, 3D printed insoles (with my name beautifully engraved on the base) were no walk in the park. I had a lot of muscle tension in my feet.

The insoles pushed my feet up, activating the muscles in a way they had never experienced before. Although it wasn't comfortable, it was a positive sign; my foot was working to adapt and strengthen.

As Sanya explained in a video, my insole had a small bump that was designed to activate a nerve in my foot. The insole worked the muscles in the arch of my foot.

I started using my custom insoles after a family trip to Italy that involved a lot of walking. At first I thought I had missed a great opportunity to test the insoles, but I was wrong. Now I know that you have to start slowly and make sure the shoe leaves enough room for your feet when adding the insole.

Going shopping with my new insoles was a tough start. But after a week, everything changed. Today, every time I walk barefoot, my foot feels different. I am aware of the areas where my foot touches the ground and the uncomfortable feeling of the first few days has disappeared.

Custom-made insoles fit perfectly

Some shoes already have arch support. But since people's feet are different, this may not be good. Some people need a lot of arch support, and others, like me, need less.

Generic insoles and the standard arch support in shoes are usually conservative because they need to fit well for many people. Generic insoles could be too high, too low, or inappropriate for the shape of the foot. For some people with specific problems, generic insoles will not be helpful. This is where a custom insole comes in.

Today, mass customization – as opposed to mass production – is possible thanks to the rapid process of self-scanning and 3D printing. This has already proven to be more effective than generic insoles, providing more relief from the symptoms of flat feet and better comfort than pre-made generic insoles (Xu et al., 2019).

What to expect when using custom-made insoles

The acid test came after a visit to Oktoberfest in Munich, where we live. We spent the whole day walking and standing, and it took three hours to get home because of power problems on the S-Bahn trains (thanks, aluminum foil balloon). No sitting for us. But unlike our Italian adventure, my legs and feet were completely fine: no pain, no feeling of heavy legs, which was remarkable for me.

Since then, I have been using my insoles every day and love the feeling of the little bumps under my arch. This experience has also opened my eyes to a neglected area: foot health.

Now I pay more attention to my shoes. I do regular foot exercises and go barefoot as often as possible. When I wear shoes, my insoles are always with me to train my arch and give my feet the support they need to reduce the inward tilt. The hallux valgus will probably not go away, but I am confident that the insoles will help prevent the consequences of slightly flat feet.

How scanning technology works

The Sooley app uses FaceID sensor technology, originally developed for secure phone unlocking, to perform millimeter-accurate 3D scans of your foot. Capable of scanning objects up to 1 meter away, this infrared-based structural light sensor delivers extremely accurate 3D models.

By helping users take five scans from different angles, the app creates a highly detailed digital image of the foot that is comparable to – if not more accurate than – traditional laser scanners used by doctors.

This cutting-edge technology is used by orthopedic specialists and sportswear companies to create customized products, including ski boots and other performance-oriented footwear, ensuring the highest levels of precision and comfort.

There is not enough research

I wondered how I could measure the improvement from the insoles and discovered that more research is needed in this area. Only one randomized clinical trial could be included in the 2019 systematic review by Herchenröder et al.

The main reason there are so few studies is that analyzing people's foot shape over a long period of time and on a large scale is expensive and time-consuming. The most common outcomes measured in studies are assessment of plantar pressure, electromyographic activity, foot posture, and comfort. Some of these studies require medical equipment such as 3D computed tomography, X-rays, or electromyography; therefore, participants must make multiple visits to the clinic or to the site of the equipment.

An app like Sooley, which allows you to scan your feet without leaving your home, could be a new way to do more research and understand how insoles affect feet, alignment and posture. No time-consuming doctor visits are required; a monthly scan at home is easy to do.

Likewise, the digitalization of the foot opens up a new way to better understand how the foot moves. In the future, it should also be possible to have customized shoes that can be easily produced and fit perfectly.

A little tip

Here's a little tip from Sanya: "When you're barefoot, try lifting your big toe. This activates the muscles in your longitudinal arch and helps to move your foot into a healthier arch position. You'll notice a subtle change in the shape of your foot!" I do this exercise several times a day while I'm sitting and working; if you have relatively flat feet like me, you can try it too!

The whole experience of foot scanning and insoles has given me an awareness of a part of my body that I have completely neglected. Taking a 3D scan of my feet from home with my iPhone was fun, and I was curious about the 3D printed insoles. Now I know there is a lot more to understand and optimize to improve the health of my feet, and thanks to Sooley, my foot health journey starts right now.

references

Chen H, Sun D, ​​Fang Y, Gao S, Zhang Q, Bíró I, Tafferner-Gulyás V, Gu Y. Effect of orthopedic insoles on lower limb motion kinematics and kinetics in adults with flat foot: a systematic review. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2024 Jul 9;12:1435554. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1435554. PMID: 39070160; PMCID: PMC11273083.

Danko M, Sekac J, Dzivakova E, Zivcak J, Hudak R. 3D Printing of Individual Running Insoles - A Case Study. Orthop Res Rev. 2023 May 29;15:105-118. doi: 10.2147/ORR.S399624. PMID: 37275301; PMCID: PMC10237191.

Daryabor A, Kobayashi T, Saeedi H, Lyons SM, Maeda N, Naimi SS. Effect of 3D printed insoles for people with flat feet: A systematic review. Assist Technol. 2023 Mar 4;35(2):169-179. doi: 10.1080/10400435.2022.2105438. Epub 2022 Aug 24. PMID: 35882078.

Herchenröder M, Wilfling D, Steinhäuser J. Evidence for foot orthoses for adults with flatfoot: a systematic review. J Foot Ankle Res. 2021 Nov 29;14(1):57. doi: 10.1186/s13047-021-00499-z. PMID: 34844639; PMCID: PMC8628393.

Jiang Y, Wang D, Ying J, Chu P, Qian Y, Chen W. Design and Preliminary Validation of Individual Customized Insole for Adults with Flexible Flatfeet Based on the Plantar Pressure Redistribution. Sensors (Basel). 2021 Mar 4;21(5):1780. doi: 10.3390/s21051780. PMID: 33806449; PMCID: PMC7961547.

Pita-Fernandez S, Gonzalez-Martin C, Alonso-Tajes F, Seoane-Pillado T, Pertega-Diaz S, Perez-Garcia S, Seijo-Bestilleiro R, Balboa-Barreiro V. Flat Foot in a Random Population and its Impact on Quality of Life and Functionality. J Clin Diagn Res. 2017 Apr;11(4):LC22-LC27. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2017/24362.9697. Epub 2017 Apr 1. PMID: 28571173; PMCID: PMC5449819.

Park CH, Chang MC. Forefoot disorders and conservative treatment. Yeungnam Univ J Med. 2019 May;36(2):92-98. doi: 10.12701/yujm.2019.00185. Epub 2019 May 14. PMID: 31620619; PMCID: PMC6784640.