Protalus Innovation
What problem does Protalus solve?
Protalus insoles directly address the root cause of a variety of conditions, including plantar fasciitis, generalized foot pain, fatigue from standing, heel spurs, and more. In addition to that, Protalus insoles benefit the weight-bearing joints such as the ankles, knees, and hips. They are effective because of their unique design that features the deepest heel cup in an after-market insole. The heel cup gently guides your heel and ankle into a properly aligned position, allowing you to distribute pressure in the most optimal way. This allows the pressure of your daily movements to be handled by your skeletal system and relieves other structures, like your plantar fascia, from taking on excess load. The result is reliable and sustained pain relief, support, and comfort.
How can this transform the world or our day-to-day lives?
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.71 billion people have musculoskeletal conditions worldwide (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/musculoskeletal-conditions) One of the leading causes of MSDs is misalignment at the ankle. With Protalus’s simple solution, everyone from warehouse workers to the elderly can benefit from proper alignment, increased stability, a decreased risk of injury, and a reduction in pain. Free movement is vital for quality of life and Protalus insoles not only work to help resolve foot pain but also to change the way the body functions as a whole, extending the years in which a person has pain-free mobility. The benefits of Protalus insoles can be measured in the laboratory studies by BioMechanica, the anecdotes of a warehouse foreman, or in the individual stories of the 80K+ customers who have given the product a 5-star rating.
Christopher Buck Entrepreneur
Tell us about the founder. What is their background?
Protalus was founded by Christopher Buck, who was searching for a solution to his son’s foot pain. Having seen the devastating effects that foot pain had on his son’s quality of life, he worked closely with his son’s physical therapist to understand the root cause of his son’s condition. He learned that poor alignment between the talus bone (ankle) and the heel could lead to a variety of foot conditions. He also learned that a solution existed, but it was in the form of the hard and uncomfortable orthotics that were given to his son. While other insole companies on the market were focused on adding cushions to mask the issue, Christopher called on the relationships that his father had as a footwear designer to create a product that could comfortably achieve the correction of the uncomfortable orthotic. From this, the Protalus insole was born. In spite of (or perhaps because of) his lack of medical training, he approached the issue from a mechanical perspective and found a solution that works for all arch types and is comfortable to wear. Having adopted this solution, his son is not only happily experiencing life but was recently accepted to play on Yale’s lacrosse team.
How did they come up with the idea?
Christopher worked closely with his son’s physical therapist and learned that in 1967, a study was done at UC Berkeley that outlined the solution to the cause of the most common foot conditions. The resulting orthotic is known in the industry as the UCBL, a hard orthotic typically made of plastic that cups the heel to keep the ankle and heel in alignment. Christopher did not come up with this technology but was the first to put it into a comfortable insert made for daily wear that was flexible enough to be worn while running. Making it comfortable made it a much more accessible option for the majority of people.
Protalus Reviews
What do customers love most about the product?
Besides the reliable pain relief the insoles provide, customers love the ease of use and value of the product. Unlike most insoles, Protalus insoles last up to a year, making them more convenient to deal with. They also require no trimming and are true to size for your current shoes. Beyond that, Protalus insoles are backed by a 90-day money-back guarantee that gives customers peace of mind about their purchases.
Yankee Candle Estate: Disneyland in the backyard(Opens in a new browser tab)
Where can people get this product?
Protalus insoles are available at protalus.com as well as several physical therapy offices throughout the country that are listed on our main site.
