Guide to Plantar Fasciitis Shoes

By: Teddy Stevennson Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Plantar fasciitis or inflammation of the plantar fascia occurs when the plantar fascia develops microscopic tears at its insertion into the heel bone, or anywhere along its length. With poor foot mechanics, overutilization or other risk factors, the pressure applied to the plantar fascia during running or walking and the shift of body weight from one foot to the other can draw the fascia from the heel and result in microscopic tears.

Plantar fasciitis is a serious condition. At its most extreme, the worst cases of plantar fasciitis can result in ruptures in the ligament.

Approximately 2.5 million new cases of plantar fasciitis are seen each year.

Wearing good shoes at all times is very important in treating plantar fasciitis and avoiding it in the first place. Sometimes wearing poorly fitting or made shoes can lead to plantar fasciitis. Avoid walking barefoot or wearing flip-flops as the lack of cushioning for the heel can damage the plantar fascia. The best shoes for treating plantar fasciitis should have low heels (for ladies, keep heels under 3 inches), good cushioning in the sole, and soft arch support. Some shoes tend to lack enough cushioning, particularly in the heel and front foot, and don't provide adequate structural support around the arch and mid-foot. With better cushioning and support provided by good shoes, the stress on the heelbone and throughout the foot while exercising can be reduced by a noticable amount, helping to prevent plantar fasciitis.

The fit of a shoe is critical. Wearing shoes that are too small may aggravate plantar fasciitis. When shopping for shoes or trying on shoes that have been bought and delivered on the internet, patients should do so late in the day. This is because feet swell during the day and become slightly bigger than in the morning. Furthermore, one foot is often slightly wider than the other. If this is true, patients should check for proper fitting on the larger foot. Shoes are better slightly too big (on the smaller foot) than the other way around.

When trying on shoes, focus on the padding and arch support, heel bone, and front of your feet. Shoes should obviously feel comfortable and there should be no points of pressure on any single area of the foot. Select shoes with a little broader toe area to any troubles with bunions or other toe conditions.

Athletic shoes that fit well and provide good support are a good choice. Running shoes must be replaced frequently since the innersoles with use. If you examine a pair of new running shoes and compare them to your old pair you will easily tell the difference in support and cushioning supplied by the brand new pair. Exchanging your running shoes is a genuinely good investment for battling plantar fasciitis.

Shoes designed for plantar fasciitis have treatments built into the insole of the shoe, letting you treat the problem without adding special innersoles.

Some shoes have specific designs which apply the right amount of pressure to the plantar fascia, stretching it optimaly and reducing pain and swelling. Moreover, plantar fasciitis shoes are designed to incorporate structural support round the heel to protect it from any additional damage.

Catching plantar fasciitis early and a detailed treatment schedule are important for healing plantar fasciitis. If treatment is held up or deficient in the early stages of the condition, plantar fasciitis can take nearly 18 months or more to be fully treated. However by sticking to a suitably mapped out treatment schedule and fusing many of the individual treatment methods available, luckily in the majority of reported cases, non-surgical treatment leads to a fully recovery. Only in the worst cases is invasive plantar fasciitis treatment required.

It may take several months for symptoms to go away and the plantar fascia to be completely healed. Remember that a torn ligament (even only very tiny tears) only happens following continual and long-term stress and to counter this, long-term treatment and rest is required. Further, the longer the condition has existed and the more severe the heel pain, the longer the treatment will be required for.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: Teddy Stevennson has more than 30 years experience of plantar fasciitis treatment. For a comprehensive review of plantar fasciitis treatments including plantar fasciitis night splints, shoes and exercises visit www.Plantar-FasciitisTreatment.com.