It’s important to find the right shoes, especially when you suffer from plantar fasciitis. This painful condition can lead to severe foot pain that makes it difficult to get around.

Here are some of our top tips for picking out the right shoes when you’re looking for plantar fasciitis relief.

Arch Support

When picking out shoes for plantar fasciitis, you’ll want to make sure it has adequate arch support. When you think about the arch of your foot, you’re likely thinking about the medial longitudinal arch. This is the arch that runs along the inside of your foot, from the ball of your foot to your heel.

However, you also have a transverse arch and lateral longitudinal arch. Your transverse arch is located in the coronal plane of the foot near the metatarsal bones. It spans the width of your foot as opposed to the length, as is the case with the medial and lateral longitudinal arches.

Sometimes, bigger is not better, and this is certainly true for arch supports.

Too often, an arch support is too aggressive and can violate the biomechanics of the foot. Find a shoe with a decent amount of protection regarding the arch, but it should not be uncomfortable at the instep position.

Certain shoes like The Healing Sole contain a metatarsal bar which can alleviate stress on the ball of the foot by offloading pressure on the metatarsal bones.

A Firm Structure

When considering shoe features for pain relief, your first instinct may be to choose heavily padded or soft shoes. However, firm shoes are actually more supportive for your feet and better in the long run. A shoe with the right amount of structure will allow the foot to move often and this promotes circulation, stretching and strengthening. A highly cushioned shoe allows the foot to sink into a single position and likely remain in that one position for the duration of wear.

When you walk on a firm, stable sole, you’re more able to strengthen the core muscles of the foot. Dr. Warner designed The Healing Sole to have a firm footbed for this reason. Another element of The Healing Sole that responds to a structural design is the rocker bottom sole. A rocker bottom will flatten out if the material in which it exists is too weak. Therefore, our rocker bottom sole exists in a stronger material.

Rocker Bottom Sole

Rocker bottom soles are a common feature in shoes for pain relief. Some shoes have a forefoot rocker sole, while others (like The Healing Sole) have a heel-to-toe rocker sole.

This particular feature engages muscles in the feet and legs that you may not engage often. This can cause some soreness, but can improve your stability and balance over time. The rocker bottom is a time-honored method to alleviate stress across the bones, joints, ligaments and connective tissues of the foot.

During the gait cycle, a rocker bottom sole can reduce pressure on the foot, therefore reducing pain in key areas affected by plantar fasciitis.

By combining a firm structure with a rocker bottom sole, The Healing Sole helps relieve pressure and absorb shock with each step.

A rocker bottom sole also allows for a gentle stretch of the plantar fascia. This stretch can feel great after a long day on your feet, or first thing in the morning when plantar fasciitis can be most painful.

The Healing Sole combines these features and more to help relieve plantar fasciitis pain, while promoting overall foot strength and health. Try a pair for thirty days and feel the relief - or we guarantee your money back.

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