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Plantar Fasciitis Shoes – Best Choices to Relieve Pain in 2024!

If you find yourself dealing with plantar fasciitis on a regular basis, you are well aware that any extended time on your feet can quickly turn into agony. Plantar fasciitis comes with a wide range of discomfort, from heel pain with extensive walking, to sharp stiffness upon waking. Anything from standing to sprinting can cause plantar fasciitis pain.

Plantar Fasciitis Shoes

Proper treatment of plantar fasciitis can be arduous, with tasks including stretching and icing and more. However, one crucial thing that you can do is purchase shoes that are specifically developed to alleviate plantar fasciitis pain. Arch support and heel support are a must, as well as thick cushioning. We developed the following list of suggestions for different shoe types for plantar fasciitis, and then tested them through a variety of scenarios to ensure that they lived up to the claims.

After our extensive testing and research performed here at Shoe Guide, we have narrowed our list down to six categories, and are proud to suggest the following options for each of those categories.  (Well, there is also a 7th category, but that got a whole article all to itself: Running Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis - Everything You Need To Know.) Below is a summary of our top choices, but read on to find some alternate suggestions in each category as well!


The Best Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis - Our Top Choices


Things to Consider When Selecting the Best Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis

There are plenty of vital factors that play into consideration when on the hunt for the best shoes for plantar fasciitis. Some of the most important factors include strong arch support, ample shock absorption, and comfort with design and cushioning.

Above, we have mentioned the crucial aspects of arch support, shock absorption, and cushioning. But why are thee important? What can these factors do to assist in alleviating pain associated with plantar fasciitis? Let’s dig in.

Focusing on Strong Arch Support

If you suffer from difficulties due to plantar fasciitis, great arch support in a shoe might be the most important element to look for. The brand is not important. The price is not important. Additional features may not even be as important, without ample arch support. Without good arch support, all you are doing is compounding the issues that will crop up further down the road through repeated abuse and overstretching.

Conversely, when wearing an appropriate pair of shoes for plantar fasciitis, you will notice the pain associated with your plantar fascia begins to disappear and become far less frequent. It is worth nothing that there are quite a few levels of arch support available. Conditional severity is a major determining factor in the amount of arch support that is truly necessary. For those with exacerbated plantar fasciitis or flat feet, it is crucial to avoid lower arching shoes. Instead, you should focus on shoes with thick, strong arch support.

Focusing on Ample Shock Absorption

Absorbing the impact and shock when walking, running or standing is a very important job outsourced to the arch of the foot. When the arch flattens, the functions of shock absorption natural in the foot will also fall flat. As a result of this, you will experience pain when performing these activities, as well as sharp pains and a lack of coordination.

This pain derives from a lack of absorption upon impact with the ground. Instead of the energy flowing directly through the arch of the foot, the shock levels are pushed instead to the ball and heel of the foot. This is where the serious pain will flare up.

 Having a reliable and properly research pair of shoes for a variety of activities will provide strong shock absorption at all hours of the day. These shoes will take the brunt of the force of the foot striking the ground, and give the rest of the foot a break from the impact.
Best Men's Dress Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis
Focusing on Comfort with Design and Cushioning

The main reason to select a strong pair of shoes for plantar fasciitis is to alleviate the pain that is associated with extensive standing, movement, or long periods of being prone (sleeping, planes, sitting at a desk all day, etc). The goal is to develop strong, natural arches of the foot. For this reason, having good contours in the heel, and a flexible, spacious toe box is of utmost importance. These ensure that the shoe will be bendable and flexible towards the front, however will provide solid, rigid support closer to the heel.

Some of the best shoes for plantar fasciitis will use the design concepts above to ensure strong maintenance of the arch of the foot, as well as good cushioning to avoid exhaustion on ligaments that are the biggest offenders for collapse later on in adult life.

Other Considerations When Looking for the Best Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis

Here you are, on a new quest to find the most effective cure for plantar fasciitis pain. When you are at this point, you need to take every factor into account on the search for new shoes to fit your pain-free lifestyle. The buying process never should be expensive and difficult.

Ensuring a keen eye is placed on additional features not mentioned above, such as orthotics, fit and style, will go a long way to make sure you are ready for what life throws your way, and with minimal plantar fasciitis pain to go along with it.

Putting the Factor on Orthotics

It is likely that your current non-plantar fasciitis focused shoes are not going to provide the support needed to alleviate pain. When this is the case, orthotic inserts where applicable can be incredibly effective. Not only are these far more wallet-friendly, they are also insanely common, and are easy to locate and buy.

Whether shopping online or at any grocery or drugstore, there are plenty of options of all shapes, sizes and prices to choose from. The best thing about orthotics is that they easily fit into your current shoes, regardless of shoe type or activity.

Putting the Factor on Fit

One of the most important qualities of a good pair of shoes for plantar fasciitis is how the shoe fits. If you’re experiencing a bout of plantar fasciitis, your arch and heel will likely be inflamed and swollen. This makes the fit of a shoe, especially at the midfoot, crucial to ensure that you are getting the proper support.

But, what goes into ensuring that the shoe chosen has proper arch support? A great way to do this is to look at the reviews, and see what people are saying about how pressure was eased on the arch versus intensifying. Of course, the ideal test is trying the shoes on for yourself and putting them through their paces.

Putting the Factor on Style

Back in the day, shoes for plantar fasciitis were lumped into the concept of “orthopedic shoes”. They had incredibly chunky soles, typically looked like plastic, and were the color of muted tan computers. They had velcro straps, and were likely paired with a cane or walked. Those days are gone.

With the advancements in footwear technology, manufacturers have developed some of the most fashionable styles and made them work for those suffering from plantar fasciitis. The options we chose are pretty stylish, and relatively popular both inside and outside the plantar fasciitis community.

Arriving at our Selections for Plantar Fasciitis Shoes for each Category

But why were these shoes the chosen options? We had plenty that we tested in each of the relevant categories, and will have a few honorable mentions for each. However, in our research and testing processes, combined with extensive aggregation of reviews and product research, the options in the table above were by far the standouts for each of their categories for alleviating plantar fasciitis pain. But how did they fare in our testing processes?

We took each of the shoe categories through their own set of tests. These ranged from a full day’s worth of work around the outside of the house, to two hours of tennis practice and wind sprints, to two days of office work, running back and forth to meetings and spending time in standups and beyond. Let’s see how they each performed, what went well, what could be improved upon, our final verdict, and a couple alternatives in each of the respective categories.


Best Walking Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis: Saucony Omni Grid

Summary

The Saucony Grid Omni are a great choice for walking shoes. They are a comfortable sneaker from one of the top running shoe manufacturers, and come in black or white, completely monochrome. This makes them appropriate for many work settings.

Saucony, known for their innovative, high quality designs, frequently excels at their footwear, especially those in the running and walking realms. They also put a focus on alleviating plantar fasciitis pain with the Omni.

Saucony Grid Omni Isolated Shot
How We Tested

These shoes were relatively simple to test. We tested the Saucony Grid Omni in two separate “courses”, to ensure that they held up well when walking across many different surfaces.

The first testing arena was the Jacksonville Downtown Riverwalk. We did five miles of walking on the Northbank and Southbank, over pavement, sidewalk, asphalt, and even complex steel bridgework. The second testing took place at the same location we tested the best running shoes for plantar fasciitis, a four mile trek around a mall. The walk took us through loading bays and vacant areas, and inside the mall itself.

Overall, the Saucony Grid Omni performed admirably. We expected a bit of push and pull, as these were a brand new pair of shoes. However, we experienced none of that. In fact, upon starting to walk, we noticed that these shoes felt like we had been wearing them for weeks already, providing the “broken in” feel that is difficult to find for new pairs of shoes, especially walking shoes, and especially walking shoes with a plantar fasciitis focus.

Saucony Omni Grid on Test Course
Select Advantages of the Saucony Grid Omni
  • Plantar fasciitis sufferers will benefit from Hytrel filaments and strong stability and cushioning, centering the heel upon impact with the ground while walking.
  • The Rearfoot Grid System and Forefoot High-Rebound Compound EVA provide additional cushioning with each step.
  • The single-toned white or black means that this shoe will work in many office settings, as well as workplaces where you are required to wear one standard color.
Select Disadvantages of the Saucony Grid Omni
  • Out of the walking shoes we tested, these were by far some of the least stylish. However, their fit and comfort level were second to none.
  • There are only two color options: all-white and all-black. This is common with most plantar fasciitis walking shoes, but we would have loved some additional options to choose from.
Top Alternatives to the Saucony Grid Omni
Our Final Verdict

We selected the Saucony Grid Omni as it was a perfect combination of high-quality, comfort from plantar fasciitis pain, and price point. While not the most stylish of the walking shoes we tested, you can rest assured that extensive walking can be done without plantar fasciitis flare-ups thanks to the support of the Grid Omni.

Check out more reviews and prices on Amazon and Zappos!

Amazon: Men's | Women's

Zappos: Men's | Women's


Best Tennis Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis: New Balance MC806

Summary

The New Balance MC806 is a classically styled tennis shoe in white and blue. This shoe has no frills, but an excellent design, providing maximum support to your feet on and off the tennis court. These shoes are a blend of leather and synthetic upper materials, with a rubber sole for better shock absorption from hard landings.

Lacing is a breeze, and the reinforced toe used in its constructions provides you with impressive durability. This pair also comes with advanced New Balance Abzorb cushioning technology, resulting in added comfort. Its toe box and the perforated side panel are worth mentioning here, as they provide excellent ventilation with a C-CAP midsole which offers the best grip.

In comparison with other tennis shoes, the New Balance MC806 offers better arch support. Also, the long tongue and perfect loop lacing system allow you to adjust the shoe to your perfect fit for maximum comfort.

Close up of New Balance MC806 Plantar Fasciitis Shoes
How We Tested

This one was tricky. We weren’t really fans of tennis, and weren’t any good at playing it. However, we had an afternoon to kill at an area of Jacksonville’s beautiful Avondale at a place called Boone Park, and we took this as an opportunity to really test these shoes out in a variety of conditions.

We went to the tennis courts first off and spent a half hour hitting some balls around, focusing on pivoting, quick movements, and rapid changes in direction. The New Balance MC806 were snug without being too tight, and there was minimal slippage when moving. The soles gripped well, and we experienced no rubbing.

Additionally, not satisfied with the levels of testing, we did a half mile jog through the park, as well as a half mile walk through pine needles and some rough terrain. Finally, we power walked a half mile down a wet sidewalk into the heart of downtown Avondale.

The final result was wonderful. These were by far some of the best shoes we have tested in any capacity when it came to comfort and relief from plantar fasciitis pain.

New Balance MC806 Tennis Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis
Select Advantages of the New Balance MC806
  • These shoes have longer tongues than alternatives, with an advanced loop lacing system to keep things snug and comfortable.
  • They are incredibly well reinforced, and have immense stability when pivoting and moving with rapid motions, as well as wonderful support for plantar fasciitis pain.
  • The New Balance MC806 has plenty of room in the top box compared to alternative tennis shoes for plantar fasciitis, leaving ample space for movement.
Select Disadvantages of the New Balance MC806
  • For the price and compared to alternative tennis shoes the New Balance MC806 has a lower quality insole. Over time, some have noted that it begins to slip and wear away, and should be replaced.
  • While the rubber sole is durable, it may not be able to withstand those lateral movements for too long. There have been reports of deterioration with extensive, daily use.
Top Alternatives to the New Balance MC806
Our Final Verdict

Overall, the New Balance MC806 is a wonderful pair of cozy and comfortable tennis shoes for plantar fasciitis. These shoes have proper ventilation, a roomy toe box, and are plenty snug enough for quick movement, without slipping, scuffing, or rubbing. These are some of the best plantar fasciitis shoes we have tested.

Check out more reviews and prices on Amazon and Zappos!

Amazon: Men's | Women's

Zappos: Men's | Women's


Best Men's Dress Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis: Rockport Almartin Oxford

Summary

Rockport has long been a highly reputable dress shoe manufacturer. They also offer solid orthopedic shoes that focus on issues such as plantar fasciitis, without the chunkiness “clinical” look common with these types of shoes. They are stylish and subtle, and users can enjoy comfort from all angles.

The style is perfect for both formal wear and business professional, and are a classic brogue look that features the perforations and pinking that you’ve grown to expect with the dress shoe oxford stylings. These look nothing like plantar fasciitis focused orthotic shoes for sure!

Rockport Dress Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis
How We Tested

These were tricky ones to test, but we eventually found the perfect “course” for testing purposes. Simply put, we wore these Rockport Almartin Oxford dress shoes for three long ten-hour workdays. This includes an amalgamation of stand-up and sit down meetings, rushing from place to place, going up and down several flights of stairs, extended periods of standing, long walks through parking lots and along sidewalks and extensive driving.

Overall, we had minimal issues with plantar fasciitis flare-ups with the Rockport Almartin Oxford. The shoes remained comfortable, did not squeak in any way, and from the get go felt like we had been wearing them for months.

We were incredibly impressed overall with the Rockport Almartin Oxford in every way, shape or form. The quality, style and feel are reminiscent of our Allen Edmonds Strand, but at less than 1/3rd of the price, and with significantly more plantar fasciitis support. Needless to say, these will be regulars in our daily lives!

Rockport Plantar Fasciitis Dress Shoes at the Office
Select Advantages of the Rockport Almartin Oxford
  • Compared to alternative dress shoes that focus on plantar fasciitis, the Rockport oxfords being reviewed are less than half the price of the next competitor, without any loss of quality.
  • These shoes come with an EVA footbed that provides the wearer significant levels of both stability and comfort in a compact, comfortable package.
  • The Rockport Almartin Oxford is made of some significantly high quality leather, which is resistant to scratches and scuffs and lasts years with only standard polishings.
Select Disadvantages of the Rockport Almartin Oxford
  • We were hopeful that there would be a brown leather option, or at least something besides black. Nope, black is the only option currently available for these shoes.
  • As we are used to Allen Edmonds, we were discouraged to find out that these shoes could not be resoled. Any wearing away due to overpronation requires complete shoe replacement.
Top Alternatives to the Rockport Almartin Oxford
Our Final Verdict

Overall, the Rockport Almartin Oxford is a wonderful dress shoe all around, not just for plantar fasciitis. At a far lower price that alternatives in the same niche, the Almartin is a stellar addition to any plantar fasciitis shoe repertoire, and will be our go-to dress shoe for years to come.

Check out more reviews and prices on Amazon and Zappos!


Best Sandals for Plantar Fasciitis: KEEN Newport H2

Summary

KEEN is a relatively new shoe company to the scene. They have only been operating for about fifteen years. However, in this time that have turned themselves into a powerhouse through the manufacture of durable, comfortable, and high quality footwear.

The KEEP Newport H2 is no exception to this standard. A sandal designed for sporting uses, it is multifunctional and is just as viable when kayaking than when boating, wading, or walking through the ocean. They are made to stand up to extensive use, as all KEEN offerings are, and they can handle just about anything you throw their way.

Keen Newport - The Best Sandals for Plantar Fasciitis
How We Tested

These were more outdoorsy sandals than “hanging out at the lake” sandals. As such, we had the perfect course to really test the KEEN Newport H2. We drove over to Little Talbot Island State Park at mid-afternoon, and really put them through their paces on the beach and even in the Atlantic Ocean!

First, we took a half-mile walk in deeper sugar sand. This is one of the worst nightmares for plantar fasciitis sufferers, especially those who experience calf pain as well. Lo and behold, with the KEEN Newport H2, we experienced minimal calf issues, and zero problems with our arches or heel.

Then, we took a longer walk of two miles, spending most of that time in wet, hard-packed sand with plenty of shells. In the extended walk, the KEEN Newport H2 showed no signs of wear, and were perfectly comfortable, with zero plantar fasciitis pain where we would normally be starting to really feel it.

Finally, we did a half mile in the Atlantic itself, testing how the sandals performed when faced with resistance from water and waves. We were in up to our knees, with waves that went up to mid-thigh. Again, there were no issues to speak of, and the shoes were comfortable right out of the box, even dealing with the turbulence of the ocean, shells and sand. Overall, we were incredibly impressed with the KEEN Newport H2, and they by far showed to be the best sandals for plantar fasciitis.

Keen Newport Plantar Fasciitis Sandals at the beach
Select Advantages of the KEEN Newport H2
  • These sandals have the best “traction control” of any sandals we have ever worn, regardless of their focus on plantar fasciitis.
  • The KEEP Newport H2 is not the typical sandal with one to two straps or back strap. Instead, they act more like shoes with mesh portions and shoelaces removed.
  • They have a rubber outsole and siping sole, but most important for those who suffer from plantar fasciitis or are looking to avoid it, they have an EVA footbed.
Select Disadvantages of the KEEN Newport H2
  • The polyester webbing, while providing extensive water usage without damage, is a relatively low quality material, and has been known to quickly deteriorate.
  • Compared to alternative sandals on the non plantar fasciitis variety, the KEEP Newport H2 is incredibly bulky and far heavier.
Top Alternatives to the KEEN Newport H2
Our Final Verdict

With an EVA footbed, a comfortable sole, and incredibly durable material construction, the KEEP Newport H2 acts more like a shoe than a sandal. Performing admirably in our testing, we can happily recommend this as the best sandal for those looking for plantar fasciitis relief when out and about in the water.

Check out more reviews and prices on Amazon and Zappos!

Amazon: Men's | Women's

Zappos: Men's | Women's


Best Work Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis: Timberland Pro Pit Boss Steel Toe

Summary

Timberland is well known for making some of the most durable, long-lasting, and comfortable work boots. Their offerings were designed for the true working man. The Timberland Pro Pit Boss 6” Steel Toe work boot is no exception.

These lace-up leather work boots are rugged, and come with tonal stitching. They adjust easily for an incredibly secure fit, and the padded collar works to provide additional support throughout the ankle. These shoes come feature rich, with plenty of bonuses to ensure that plantar fasciitis pain through long working days are a thing of the past.

Timberland Pro Pit Boss Steel Toe Work Boots for Concrete and Plantar Fasciitis
How We Tested

Luckily, the day after we received the Timberland Pro Pit Boss Steel Toe, we had a good bit of chores to do around the outside of a house. We put them on and went to it, spending nine hours in the sun and rain and heat and cold and fog. The grass was slippery first thing in the morning, and the boots performed great traction-wise as we dragged 12 lawn and leaf bags of old wood mulch out and then dumped 20 bags of rubber mulch in its place.

Once the grass dried out and the sun came up, we used a push mower to mow the front, back and side yards. This is typically where some of the plantar fasciitis pain would flare up, when pushing a heavy piece of machinery with a bag full of grass clippings. We were surprisingly completely unaffected!

Finally, we had to dig an extensive trench for some plumbing pipe to be laid. This was a massive undertaking, and the Timberland Pro Pit Boss Steel Toe performed admirably when twisting, standing in one spot for extended periods of time, and moving wheelbarrows full of dirt from one side of the yard to the other. Overall, we were incredibly impressed by the Timberland Pro Pit Boss Steel Toe, and they will be our new work shoes from now on!

Timberland Pro Pit Boss Steel Toe Work Boots for Concrete and Plantar Fasciitis
Select Advantages of the Timberland Pro Pit Boss Steel Toe
  • Removable sock liners prevent rubbing, and lessens blister formation, while roomy steel toe meets ANCI standard while not restricting toe movement.
  • A synthetic, heavy-duty sole provides grip and traction, simultaneously alleviating plantar fasciitis pain while also preventing slip and fall issues on wet or oily surfaces.
  • The antimicrobial fabric lining prevents odors while allowing the feet to breathe properly, crucual for extended wears, which is common with work boots.
Select Disadvantages of the Timberland Pro Pit Boss Steel Toe

These shoes are heavy! This is to be expected with steel toe work boots, but don’t expect them to be light in any way, shape or form.

The material caused them to scuff very quickly, and came mildly scuffed out of the box. Never fear, a quick run-through with a brush fixes the issue, but after every wear? No bueno.

Alternatives to the Timberland Pro Pit Boss Steel Toe

There are no versions of these specifically for women.  If you want you can take the Men's size +1.5 to get the size in Women's (so a men's size 6 is a women's size 7.5, for example).

  • Wolverine Men's Steel Toe Raider Boot.
  • Caterpillar 2nd Shift 6" Plain Soft Toe Boot
Our Final Verdict

While these shoes are incredibly heavy compared to alternatives on our list, it’s vital to realize that they are work boots with steel toes. These shoes have the capacity to last for hundreds and hundreds of miles of walking and working. But boy, do they alleviate issues with plantar fasciitis! We highly recommend these durable options from Timberland for anyone looking for a pain free work day.

Check out more reviews and prices on Amazon and Zappos!

Amazon: Men's | Women's

Zappos: Men's | Women's


But What is Plantar Fasciitis? What Can Cause it?

Plantar fasciitis is well known as an inflammation of the tissue spanning the length of the bottom of the foot. More commonly referred to as the plantar fascia, the tissues act as a “conduit”, connecting the toes to the complex structure of small bones in the heel. This assists with arch support, as well as maintenance of flexibility of the muscles.

When working as it should, the plantar fascia and concept of mobility is not something often considered, just like you spend most of your time unaware that your tongue has no comfortable location in your mouth. However, with tearing and stretching of the ligaments, typical daily movements can become painful.

Close up image for best shoes for plantar fasciitis
Plantar Fasciitis: Recognizing Symptoms

Plantar fasciitis is no fun, and comes at unexpected times. One of the more common symptoms leading to plantar fasciitis flare ups is sharp pain in the heels after waking up or extended periods of time spent prone. This can come through as a stabbing pain, sharp throbbing, or even numbness, swelling and achiness.

There are plenty of other symptoms associated with plantar fasciitis, though. One very common symptom is difficulty when walking. This can occur, again, upon waking, or after extensive exercise at a high intensity. Typically, the tissues of the plantar fascia will warm up as time goes on, and the pain will fade away. But some are not as lucky, and find themselves facing severe plantar fasciitis. When this is the case, it can be expected that the pain will flare up again the following morning.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

One of the most common causes for plantar fasciitis to occur in adults are smaller tears in the ligaments of the foot, occuring in tandem with inflammation from exertion. For those who live active lifestyles, this can cause limitations to activity. Some other common causes for plantar fasciitis to manifest include being overweight, or having a profession where you spend a good amount of time standing over the course of a work day.

But those causes above are just scratching the surface. Other potential things that can result in plantar fasciitis manifesting in the foot include:

  • Wearing ill-fitting shoes
  • Having unnaturally high arches
  • Having flat feet (we have solutions for that)
  • Regular wearing of high heels
  • Wearing shoes that lack proper arch support
  • Routine tightness in the Achilles tendon and/or calves
  • Changes in gait (typically due to improper footwear)
  • Drastic increases in exercise and activity

When these causes overlap, the effects multiply.


Diagnosing and Treating Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common foot-related ailments that exists. About ten percent of the adult population currently is affected by this struggle. It is also far more common for women to be faced with plantar fasciitis pain than men, as one of the root causes is the wearing of high heels or ill-fitting shoes. High heels causes long periods of tightness in the calves, and is one of the reasons men get plantar fasciitis as well (the calves, not the high heels). However, plantar fasciitis occurring in men is less common overall.

For those who are between the ages of 40 and 60, plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain in this age group. Straight from the CDCP (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), over one million plantar fasciitis cases are diagnosed annually.

Some of the most common groups of people affected by this issue are runners, teachers and professors, industrial workers, waiters and wait staff at bars and restaurants, and those in face to face sales. For the most part, anyone with a job or extensive hobby where they spend a good amount of time on their feet are far more at risk than those who are not.

Stream with rocks
Properly Diagnosing Plantar Fasciitis

Diagnosing plantar fasciitis is a simple, routine process. Physical exams by a podiatrist or general practice doctor will check for tender spots on the feet. This is one of the most common methods to confirm plantar fasciitis. However, there are plenty of other tests that can be performed, including observation of the gait and range of motion, to arrive at a conclusive diagnosis.

A wonderful resource in the determining of a root cause for plantar fasciitis is a comprehensive medical history. X-rays and MRIs are not something that is commonly utilized, but they can also be used to diagnose plantar fasciitis in the case of more serious injuries occurring, like a tear or sprain of a ligament or bone.

Maintaining healthy feet is a constant process. While there are a select few in the medical space who state that plantar fasciitis is an inflammatory disease, there have been many studies performed that suggest it may be a degenerative issue.

What does this mean, though? With a degenerative problem, over time the tissue in the foot will deteriorate. This is no bueno, and can lead to extensive issues as time goes on. Obtaining the proper diagnosis as soon as possible from certified medical professionals will go quite a ways to determine if you are facing a chronic condition. If so, they can provide insight into the best progression of treatment plans to manage and alleviate the pain.

Proper Treatment Plans for Plantar Fasciitis

Treating plantar fasciitis is non-invasive, and is relatively easy when compared to similar ailments. For one, it is one of the most cost-effective treatments available. With a couple quick and simple changes to a lifestyle, and consistency in the plan of action, the healing process from plantar fasciitis can work wonderfully to ensure happy feet. We have six strong suggestions for the treatment of plantar fasciitis below.

Utilizing ice for pain management

Putting ice on inflamed and sore areas of the foot provides great assistance in swelling reduction. This swelling is what can cause extensive, permanent damage to the foot ligaments over time. Icing will also alleviate a good bit of the pain associated with plantar fasciitis, especially after long bouts of exercise.

Light stretching

Utilizing gentle stretching at regular intervals will provide extensive improvement in all aspects of pain management for plantar fasciitis. Implementing regular stretching routines is a wonderful process for the ligaments at the bottom of the foot.

Tightened tendons and muscles, remember, is one of the main causes of plantar fasciitis in adults. Using a consistent daily stretching routine assists to promote high mobility and strong flexibility in those areas.

Using over the counter and prescription anti-inflammatories

There are a plethora of topical and oral options available to help reduce the swelling and pain that is commonly associated with plantar fasciitis. Some of these options include:

  • Over the counter medications
  • Topical anti-inflammatory ointments and lotions
  • Prescribed anti-inflammatory medication

Use KT (kinesiology tape) for pain relief

Kinesiology tape will provide extensive foot pain relief and help to alleviate the pain associated with plantar fasciitis, especially when it derives from long bouts of exercise or standing. Foot taping prevents the locking up of muscles, as well as minimizing the swelling that can occur through restriction of blood flow to certain regions of the foot.

Strong taping practices provides additional benefits as well, allowing the foot to rest, and providing tendons a rest period to assist in the healing process from a bout of plantar fasciitis.

Splint use at night

Investing in inexpensive splints for use at night is another strong method to make sure that your feet are healthy and flexible for years to come. One of the major benefits of wearing night splints is that you are able to stretch out the ligament plantar fascia for long periods of time without inconvenience (compared to splint use during waking hours). Additionally, splints provide relief for tightened calf muscles, yet another of the high risk factors for plantar fasciitis.

Use of corrective, specific footwear

This is the point where Shoe Guide comes into play. We have focused our efforts and research into assisting those with alleviating pain associated with plantar fasciitis. We have already published an extensive guide for the best running shoes for plantar fasciitis. But what about those who aren’t running? What about when you can’t wear running shoes all hours of the day?

Ensuring that other shoe options are worn that focus on plantar fasciitis relief will go an incredibly long way in the process of pain alleviation and healing. We are confident that our guide and suggestions will make the research and purchasing process a breeze.


Wrapping Things Up

Plantar fasciitis is no laughing matter. The pain comes in waves, and every time is just as painful as the last. Hopefully, the shoe options and information above can provide you the insight needed to make optimal decisions on alleviating your plantar fasciitis issues with proper footwear.

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