Cowboy Boots & Plantar's Heel

Plantar's heel, or plantar fasciitis, is pain and inflammation in the plantar fascia, a thick band of connective tissue, or ligament, that runs along the bottom of your foot from your heel to your toes. WebMD notes that plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. The pain usually develops over time, occurs in just one foot and is worst right after waking up, diminishing as you move around and your muscles limber up. The website Heel Spurs notes that the pain associated with plantar fasciitis can be temporary, permanent or intermittent.

Who Gets It

• Plantar's fasciitis is common in runners, overweight people, pregnant women and those who wear the wrong shoes, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Risk Factors

• The risk factors that can contribute to developing plantar fasciitis are age (the condition is most common in people between 40 and 60), activities that put stress on the heel, being flat-footed, having a high arch, having an abnormal gait, obesity, standing on hard surfaces for long periods of time, and improper shoes, according to the Mayo Clinic. Thin-soled shoes, shoes that are loose or lack proper arch support, shoes that do not bend easily at the toes, and shoes with high heels can all contribute to the development of plantar fasciitis.

Toes

• Cowboy boots often have very stiff soles that do not bend easily at the toes. Stiff soles mean the calf muscles have to be more flexible to bend the foot so you can walk. If your calf muscles are tight--and they probably are if you have plantar fasciitis--and your boots do not bend at the toes easily, pressure is put on the heel and the fascia, causing pain, according to Heel Spurs. When buying cowboy boots, pay attention to how stiff the sole is. Try to find a boot that bends easily at the toes.

And Heels

• Plantar fasciitis develops when the tight calf muscle pulls on the ligament running across the bottom of the foot. Wearing high-heeled shoes and boots tends to cause the calf muscle to shorten, and that in turn pulls on the fasciitis. Cowboy boots often have higher heels than other kinds of work boots. The purpose of the higher heel is to help keep the foot in the stirrup of the saddle. If you do not ride horses for a living, you should wear a cowboy boot that has a lower heel, which could help prevent or alleviate plantar fasciitis.

Arch Supports

• According to Heel Spurs, arch supports can be tremendously helpful in reducing pain from plantar fasciitis. Cowboy boots can accommodate over-the-counter arch supports. Custom-made orthotics are more expensive, but they can be fashioned to fit both your boot and your foot more exactly than over-the-counter arch supports. Another option is to have your cowboy boots custom made. Dozens of websites offer custom-made cowboy boots crafted to conform to a set of measurements you send in. If you decide to go this route, make sure to tell the maker that you have plantar fasciitis and ask if they specialize in making boots to help alleviate the condition.