According to performance insole company Spenco Medical Corporation, doctors have found a way to alleviate back, knee and hip pains with a new insole specifically designed for women.

The company claims that many active women have alignment problems due to the Q-angle, or quadriceps angle that exists between the thighbone and the pelvis. In order to facilitate childbirth, women have a broad and round pelvis that results in a greater Q-angle from the pelvis to the knee. This increased Q-angle contributes to poor body alignment.

"This Q-angle causes women to start their step with a pronating heel strike," said Dr Ray Fredericksen of Sports Biomechanics, Inc., who has spent ten years studying women's Q-angles. "To prevent over-pronation, they have learned to correct their balance by forcing supination and throwing their weight to the outside mid-strike."

To address this issue, Spenco has developed the Q-Factor, a cushioning insole designed to support the foot to balance and align the body, helping to reduce injury.