What Type of Shoe Is Best Suited to Alleviating Plantar Fasciitis?

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Keyword(s): Plantar Fasciitis

Did you know that around one out of ten people will experience plantar fasciitis at some point in their lives?

Plantar fasciitis can be a severe and frustrating condition to deal with. It can even limit mobility in some people because of the pain and stiffness the feet experience. Fortunately, if you choose the most comfortable shoes for this condition, you’ll find that you’ll be able to get back on your feet and get back to your daily activities.

But what should you look for when choosing to alleviate footwear for plantar fasciitis? Are shoes for this condition any different from regular shoes? Keep reading and learn what you should look for when choosing the best shoes for plantar fasciitis.

Shoes With a Slight Heel

Ordinarily, the plantar fascia extends from your heel to your toes. It functions to give structure and support to your foot along with flexibility. The problem with plantar fasciitis is that the plantar fascia at the bottom of your foot becomes stiff for one reason.

However, when this fascia starts to thicken, plantar fasciitis ends up being the result. This means that the fascia is no longer as flexible as it usually is. Instead, it is very stiff, and because it is so stiff, walking and moving your feet will become a painful task.

Walking with this condition is especially painful because walking requires the fascia at the bottom of the feet to stretch. If the fascia is very stiff and inflexible, you can imagine trying to stretch it would be excruciating. Fortunately, you can bypass much of this discomfort by choosing shoes for foot pain.

What You Need to Know

Many people with plantar fasciitis find that shoes with a slight heel help to reduce the pain of this condition. This is because the plantar fascia does not need to stretch as much as usual by elevating the heel compared to the rest of the foot. As a result, you can walk much better without pain because you will not be forcing your fascia to stretch.

Of course, you shouldn’t opt for very high heels shoes. This would make walking hard, and such shoes may strain your feet. Instead, it would help if you looked for shoes or sandals with a slight heel lift, preferably around one or two inches.

The heel alone will do a lot to hold the foot in place. It can also give your plantar fascia a chance to rest and relax. This is important because plantar fasciitis can sometimes go away on its own, but it certainly won’t go away if you always stress the fascia.

For that reason, wearing the right shoes is very important. But what else should you look for besides shoes with slightly high heels?

Shoes With Good Arch Support

All shoes have a certain degree of arch support, but those with plantar fasciitis need a lot of support to minimize foot pain. For example, suppose you have plantar fasciitis and often walk around barefoot. Of course, when you walk around without shoes, you will not have any arch support.

Your plantar fascia will be very stressed if you have no arch support. It will have no support, and, as a result, it will need to stretch and strain with every step you take. For that reason, you may notice that it is harrowing to walk around without any shoes on.

This, of course, can be excruciating, and it is no way to go about your day. Of course, you won’t be walking around barefoot as you conduct your daily activities, but there are plenty of shoes and sandals that give little to no arch support. If you use those kinds of shoes, you will find that walking around will be a very uncomfortable and unenjoyable task.

Fortunately, finding shoes with good arch support isn’t that difficult. However, you will need to find shoes that match the arch of your feet. Some people have higher arches than others, while others have relatively flat feet.

If you are unsure what kind of foot arch you have, it is best to go to a podiatrist or your local shoe store to get advice on what sort of arch support you need.

The Details

If you have high arches, you will likely need shoes with good arch support to accommodate your feet and give you the proper support. On the other hand, if you have a low arch, you likely won’t need all that much arch support to begin with.

However, you should always have at least some kind of arch support. Remember that no arch support will strain your feet, even if you have a low arch. The point of arch support in shoes is to press up against your plantar fascia.

This limits the amount of stretch and strain that the fascia has to go through every time your feet move to take a step. Good arch support also reduces overpronation. Overpronation is a problem that can further irritate plantar fasciitis, and it involves your foot rolling inward while you walk.

This can not only irritate your plantar fascia, but it also is not suitable for your ankles. You might need to try on a few different pairs of shoes before you finally find the ones that fit the arches of your feet. However, once you find the right pair, you’ll find that walking and being on your feet, in general, will be much more comfortable than ever before.

But one more thing to look for in shoes for plantar fasciitis before you buy a pair: cushioning.

Shoes With Plenty of Cushioning

If you have plantar fasciitis, the last thing you want is a pair of shoes with no cushioning. If your shoes don’t have cushioning, it will be the next worst thing to walking barefoot on a hard floor. Shoes without good cushioning are not only bad for plantar fasciitis but bad for your foot health in general.

Suppose that you often walk around in a pair of shoes with little to no cushioning. The impact of the entire weight of your body on your feet without anything to soften the blow can slowly deteriorate your foot health. The bones, muscles, and tendons in your feet will all become irritated from the constant stress and heavy impact of walking.

This can cause your entire foot to ache, not just the plantar fascia. For that reason, you’ll need shoes with plenty of cushioning. Fortunately, most high-quality shoes have quite a lot of cushioning.

You will find that many running shoes have a lot of cushioning because they need to protect the runner’s feet from the strain of impact on the feet. Even if you’re not a runner, this amount of cushioning can be perfect for those who suffer from plantar fasciitis. However, depending on your foot problems, you may need more cushioning than usual.

More than that, many running shoes often have excellent arch support and even a slight lift in the heel.

Running Shoes

You’ll often find that people with plantar fasciitis tend to wear running shoes when walking around. Remember that cushioning is not only for absorbing the impact of your footsteps but also for keeping your foot in place.

If you wear shoes with little cushioning, you will find that your feet may wiggle around or slide around in the shoes. This, of course, is not comfortable. But when you invest in a pair of shoes with a lot of extra cushioning, you will find that your feet will stay in place.

This is important for ensuring that your feet don’t get any more irritated than they already are while walking. Cushioning can also give your feet a chance to relax.

What You Need to Know About Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is no laughing matter, making walking around without terrible pain difficult. Fortunately, if you have the right shoes, you can reduce this pain. All you need to do is look for shoes with good arch support, plenty of cushioning, and a slight heel.

If you’re in the market for these shoes, click here.