I recently reviewed a study that showed foot orthotics reduced the load in the Achilles tendon but lamented by reflecting on comments that this was not a clinical trial, but a lab based study. Nothing wrong with that, but without field or clinical based studies we do not know if those lab based effects can be translated to the field or clinic. Previous studies on this had mixed results with one showing quite dramatic positive effects of foot orthotics, but lacked a control group and others had the potential for too much bias
The rest is here:
Custom made vs sham foot orthotics for achilles tendinopathy
