Quick Answer: The Review Identified a Gap, Not a Confirmed Mechanism
A 2026 systematic review examined adult studies of foot orthoses reporting forefoot plantar-pressure outcomes. It also asked whether the evidence included orthoses designed to facilitate calf muscle stretching. The authors highlighted an evidence gap, meaning the proposed link was not established by the studies they found.
What Happened
The review brought together research on orthoses and measured plantar pressure or pressure-time variables. It considered a biomechanical hypothesis involving limited ankle motion and forefoot loading, then assessed whether existing orthosis studies had tested interventions intended to address that hypothesis through calf muscle stretching.
The central finding for readers is the gap itself. A mechanism can sound reasonable while still lacking the direct study needed to confirm it.
Why It Matters Now
Insole explanations can blend measured pressure changes, material descriptions and stretching language into one story. This review shows why those pieces should remain separate until research connects them in the relevant population and intervention.
Who It Affects
The review covers adult research populations and measured outcomes. It is useful for anyone comparing evidence claims, but it does not replace individualized clinical guidance or establish a general use case for a consumer product.
Consumer Decision Context
- Read “evidence gap” literally: it means a question remains open.
- Separate fit from theory: shoe space, heel hold and pressure points can be checked directly.
- Do not infer a feature: a hypothesis does not establish a product outcome.
- Use professional guidance for persistent issues: especially where a diagnosed condition or new symptoms are involved.
VALSOLE Support Path
The VALSOLE Size Guide helps with basic shoe and insert fit. The Insoles Complete Guide provides the broader decision framework, while the VALSOLE Insoles collection is the commercial comparison route.
What This Means for Readers
Evidence gaps are useful findings because they stop a plausible explanation from being overstated. This review does not test VALSOLE products and does not establish a stretching, pressure or health outcome for a retail insole.
Sources
- Foot / PubMed. Foot orthoses for forefoot pressure reduction and the hypothesized role in calf muscle stretching: A systematic review highlighting an evidence gap. June 2026.
- Journal record. DOI: 10.1016/j.foot.2026.102251.
