Introduction
As a parent of an active 8 year old, I’m constantly trying to find ways to relieve the various foot pains and problems that seem to come and go. My daughter plays soccer year-round, so her feet are often sore and swollen from all the running. She also complains about arches hurting after long days at school. I wanted to find an orthotic insert that could provide support and relief without cramping her style too much!
After researching different brands, the Powerstep Pinnacle insoles appeared to have great features for kids’ feet at a reasonable price point. With their contoured arch supports and ample cushioning, I hoped the Pinnacles could help stabilize my daughter’s feet and make activities less painful.
We decided to give the Powerstep Pinnacle a try for a few months during both school and sports to see if they delivered comfort and relief. Here is my detailed review as a parent on how the Powerstep Pinnacle insoles worked for my child’s foot pain issues:
Choosing Size and Fit
I used Powerstep’s size chart to select a junior small, which corresponded to toddler shoe sizes 11-2. My daughter is in a youth size 1 shoe.
When the Pinnacle inserts arrived, I had her try them on with socks and shoes to check sizing. I wanted to ensure her toes had plenty of wiggle room and the insert didn’t crowd her feet.
The junior small size gave about a thumb’s width of space ahead of her toes, which Powerstep recommends. Side-to-side they didn’t pinch or spill over.
I had her walk around a bit to get her feedback on initial comfort. She said her feet felt “springy” on the cushy inserts, though no pain or rubbing yet. It seemed we selected the appropriate kids’ size to allow for growth as well.
Break-In Period Experience
Since she hadn’t worn orthotics before, I had her break in the new Pinnacle insoles gradually over 2 weeks.
We started with only 1-2 hours of wear around the house for the first couple days. About 30 minutes into the first session, she said her arches were sore, so I suggested taking them out for the day.
On day 3 we tried again for a 2 hour stretch. This time the arch and heel soreness set in after about an hour of wear.
I used some moleskin on potential irritant spots proactively on days 4-5, which helped eliminate any rubbing. By having her wear the Pinnacles every other day and limit time on the painful days, she acclimated well after 10 days.
Having patience with the adjustment period and not over-doing it is key for avoiding unnecessary foot strain. Listen to your child’s feedback closely.
Evaluating Effectiveness for Foot Pain
Once she was comfortably wearing the Pinnacles for full school days and soccer practices, it was time to see if they helped relieve her pains.
After 2 weeks of consistent wear, she reported significantly less arch and heel pain after school and sports. The rigid arch supports seem to redistribute weight away from those areas well.
I also noticed she wasn’t asking to soak her feet after soccer games like she used to. The cushioning seems to soften impact enough to prevent post-activity swelling.
When I have her test without the Pinnacle inserts for comparison, her arches are tender again the next day. So they do seem to be providing real stabilization and relief!
My daughter says her feet just feel much more supported and comfortable for long periods in the contoured Pinnacles. The arch relief in particular has been a game changer for her.
Reviewing Impact on Sports Performance
My daughter was nervous the inserts would feel bulky or restrictive for soccer. But once she got used to wearing them during practices first, she was very pleased with their performance.
The Pinnacles provide a rigid platform for her feet when pivoting and pushing off without slowing her down. She also says landings and cuts feel less harsh with the cushioned foam base.
Her feet used to drag when getting tired late in games, but now with the support she can maintain form and speed. I also notice she bounces back faster after long games without lingering arch pain.
For sport-specific benefits, the Pinnacle insoles really shine for stabilization, shock absorption, and injury prevention. My daughter’s confidence and comfort playing soccer has grown substantially since using them.
Ongoing Care and Replacement
Caring for Powerstep insoles properly ensures they maintain support and effectiveness. I have my daughter take them out of her shoes and air them overnight after each wear.
About once a week I hand wash the inserts with a gentle soap and water, taking care not to submerge or damage them. Then I let them fully air dry before she wears them again.
Based on the packaging wear indicators, it seems like the Pinnacles will need replacing every 4-6 months for her usage level. I’ve put a reminder in my calendar to budget for fresh inserts twice a year.
Following Powerstep’s care recommendations helps the insoles last through growth spurts and seasonal sports changes.
Overall Recommendation
After testing Powerstep Pinnacle insoles extensively for my daughter’s foot pain issues, I give them my whole-hearted recommendation for other parents. They seem to provide real relief and improved sports performance.
For children with arch pain, heel soreness, swelling, and fatigue, the contoured and cushioned Pinnacle orthotics are absolutely worth trying. Getting the sizing and break-in right is key, but the rewards are well worth the initial effort.
My daughter is thrilled to have happy, springy feet again for school and sports. I’ll definitely have her younger siblings try Powersteps when they start complaining about foot woes as well!
