Shoes for Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a painful foot injury that requires treatments such as wearing protective footwear. This injury is most common among runners. Choose the type of shoes that will protect your heel from further damage.

Plantar Fasciitis

• Plantar fasciitis is an injury that involves the inflammation and irritation of your plantar fascia, the connective tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot. Ill-fitting shoes can result in additional stress to your fascia such as ones that lack cushioning in the heel and forefoot.

Shoes

• When it comes to choosing shoes for treatment of plantar fasciitis, look for a pair that fits you well and ones that provide adequate amount of structural support around your arch and mid-foot. There are many shoes available made specifically made for plantar fasciitis. These shoes have a method designed in its sole to heal and fight the onset of plantar fasciitis.

Shoe Push-up Test

• According to Dr. Stephen Pribut, a podiatric medical care specialist, you can do the shoe push up test to determine if your shoe bends where it should be--at the ball of the foot.

  Hold the heel of your shoe upright in one hand and press up underneath its forefoot. The shoe should bend at the ball of the shoe. If your shoe flexes too far back on the foot, it is incorrect and should be replaced. See Resources 1 for image.

Orthotic Shoe Inserts

• In addition to plantar fasciitis shoes, orthotic shoe inserts also offer an effective treatment of plantar fasciitis heel pain and discomfort. Insert these into any pair of shoes for relief from heel pain.

Considerations

• Many podiatrists either create or provide information about purchasing shoes especially made for plantar fasciitis patients. These shoes combat the effects of plantar fasciitis because of designs that feature a stabilizing orthotic foot bed that serves to realign feet to a neutral position.