What Shoes Should I Wear When I Have Plantar Fasciitis?
If you are dealing with a consistent amount of heel pain, you may have plantar fasciitis. One of the simpler ways to treat plantar fasciitis is by having the correct shoes, but you might find yourself wondering: What shoes should I wear when I have plantar fasciitis symptoms?
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common types of pain in the heel and may cause a great deal of discomfort. There are a few different ways to cope with plantar fasciitis, but it may be difficult to determine what might work for you.
One of the best options is to find footwear that supports the heel of your foot without causing additional pain. However, with such a large selection of footwear, it can be difficult to know where to start.
For personalised advice, contact our team at Midland Podiatry today.
What is Plantar Fasciitis?
The plantar fascia is the muscle band that connects the heel of the foot to the toes. Plantar fasciitis is when that band of muscle is in pain, often due to sustained and consistent strain to the heel or bottom of the foot.
This pain may be a low-level burning sensation or sudden stabbing pains across the arch of your foot. This strain may be caused by consistently intense activity, ageing, personal weight, genetics, or even hard flooring.
How to Identify Plantar Fasciitis
There are a few different ways to identify if you are suffering from plantar fasciitis.
You may suffer from heel pain in the mornings that slowly disperses as the day progresses and your muscles are stretched out.
If your fascia is contracted, the muscles in your feet may feel tight, making it difficult to walk in the mornings or after a longer rest.
You experience heel pain after any long rest or stretch of minimal activity.
Though these pains can be difficult to cope with on their own, the main indicator of plantar fasciitis is whether it consistently recurs. If you find yourself struggling to walk due to heel pain on most mornings, you may be suffering from plantar fasciitis.
Plantar Fasciitis Treatments
There are a few different ways you may be able to manage plantar fasciitis.
Firstly, regularly stretching and warming up your ankle and foot muscles may help alleviate plantar fasciitis pain if you do these exercises a few times a day.
Finding the correct foot support, such as insoles, night splints, orthotics, or even supportive footwear, may help reduce the strain on your feet and alleviate pain.
If you have spoken with your podiatrist and none of these options has worked, surgery may be considered as a last resort for plantar fasciitis. However, it is always best to consult with a professional before beginning any treatments.
What Shoes Should I Wear When I Have Plantar Fasciitis?
Some shoes are more likely to relieve plantar fasciitis pain than others, but there are plenty to choose from. The most important thing is that you have the correct support for your feet.
What to Look For
There are a few different factors you can look at when picking the right shoes for you.
If they have heel support, arch support, or rocker bottoms, they are likely good candidates for plantar fasciitis pain. Making sure you have the proper heel and arch support is the best way to reduce pain, as it keeps your feet in a secure position to deal with the strain of walking.
Likewise, rocker bottom shoes are designed to help rock the foot forward naturally to take some of the pressure away from walking or running. These shoes are identified by their slightly rounded soles.
The most common types of shoes you can find that have these kinds of supports are running shoes, rocker bottom shoes or sandals with arch support. The right shoes for you should reduce the impact of your steps so that your muscles are not overly affected by walking. Many different types of shoes should be available at any of your local shoe stores, but it is always recommended to get a professional opinion first to determine your unique needs.
How Best to Treat Plantar Fasciitis
If you are experiencing consistent morning heel and arch pain, you may be suffering from plantar fasciitis. One of the easiest ways to mitigate plantar fasciitis pain is to make sure your feet are supported correctly. Selecting the ideal pair of shoes for you may help alleviate pain so that you can continue with your day.
If you are looking for advice or want to consult someone about your heel pain and the type of support you need for your feet, contact us at Midland Podiatry.
