How to Find Shoes That Help With Heel Spurs

Heel pain is a common complaint from people with foot problems. Even though the bone and ligaments in the heel are structured to bear the body's weight and withstand movement, heel spurs often occur as people grow older. With age, the pads of tissue surrounding the heel begin to wear down. Common causes of heel pain are bone spurs and plantar fasciitis, both of which are associated with inflammation of tissue in the heel area. Wearing shoes that fit properly can help prevent pain.

Instructions

• 1

  Choose a shoe that will provide your foot with adequate support. Turn the shoe facing top down. Grab hold of it by the toe and heel areas and then try to bend it. The shoe is too flexible if it bends in half without much resistance. Another way to recognize a poorly constructed shoe is if the back heel caves in when you press down on it.

• 2

  Squeeze the heel of the shoe to see if it keeps its shape. The shoe is too rigid if the heel has no bend. Even though the heel area should flex some, you want the back of the shoe to keep its shape. A good shoe should bend at the ball of the foot, not too far back toward the heel.

• 3

  Check to see if the shoe bends at the toes. A properly designed shoe reduces stress on the arch and heel by spreading the pressure of impact more evenly between the forefoot and heel.

• 4

  Select a shoe with a more rigid insole. You don't want your foot moving around too much in a shoe, especially at the heel. Soft, cushiony insoles may not be able to support the weight of your body, causing excess pressure on the foot.

• 5

  Place your hand inside the toe area of the shoe. Move your hand from side to side. If the shoe bulges easily with the pressure, it will not provide your forefoot with enough support. A shoe that has too much stretch allows the foot too much side-to-side motion.

• 6

  Take the shoe by the heel and toe areas, twisting it in opposite directions. The shoe should twist no more than just a little.