PLANTAR FASCIITIS
WHAT IS IT AND WHICH SHOES CAN HELP IT?
Have you ever heard of Plantar Fasciitis? Usually, nobody has heard this phrase until they have experienced it or knows someone who has. When you work in a specialised shoe shop, it is one of the most common foot problems that customers talk about and most of them are desperate to find a solution for this issue because it is so painful. Plantar Fasciitis seems to be such a popular issue right now that we thought some more information on what it is and how to help alleviate the symptoms would be beneficial. Yes, we are sales advisors/ managers in a shoe shop (we know we are not podiatrists) however, we have additional qualifications from The Society of Shoe Fitters as well as experience in trying to find shoes which will be the most beneficial to customers experiencing Plantar Fasciitis.
Treating Plantar Fasciitis
Do you know what the best treatment of Plantar Fasciitis is? To be honest, the best thing is actually if you can try to prevent it ever happening in the first place. In this blog, we will try to explain what Plantar Fasciitis is and how your choice of shoes can affect it.
FIG 1.
If you look at FIG 1, you can get a visual representation of what the Plantar Fascia is – it is the main ligament (or fascia) covering the base of your foot. There are 26 bones in each foot, as well as additional ligaments and tendons which all work together to keep our feet working as nature intended. These structures take a huge amount of strain during walking/exercising. When the Plantar Fascia becomes inflamed or damaged, this causes excruciating pain around the heel area, where the fascia inserts onto the heel bone. This pain is usually the most intense first thing in the morning when you take those first few steps out of bed.
SOME OF THE FACTORS WHICH CAN CAUSE INFLAMMANTION OF THE FASCIA:
Over pronating during walking
Unstable/ weak ankles and foot structures
Sudden change in physical activities, such as jogging or running
Poor arch support
Weight increase
Tight calf muscles
Of course, when we say that prevention is best when it comes to Plantar Fasciitis, we are talking about ensuring that you are wearing the correct footwear… well, we are a shoe shop after all! You can’t go wrong with a good, comfy pair of ECCO shoes, and IMAC shoes, and maybe some Skechers shoes too – Ok this is where my problem is, I end up with a pair of comfy shoes from every brand in just about every style.
Anyway, back to the shoes and how they affect Plantar Fasciitis symptoms.
What footwear should I wear to help ease my Plantar Fasciitis?
When it comes to choosing the right footwear for your individual case of Plantar Fasciitis, there are a few important points to consider. Shoes should have:
- Cushioned footbeds
- Shock absorbing heels and sole units, preferably with a broad base shape
- Decent level of arch support
- Lace-up fastenings provide the best level of support
Are there any particular shoe brands which I should buy for Plantar Fasciitis?
We get asked this all the time, and to be honest with you there isn’t one brand that is sold purely for Plantar Fasciitis. However, we do stock many different brands of shoes which offer the right type of shoes you should wear. We have put together a list of our customers favourite choices when it comes to buying shoes to alleviate the symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis, please find this list below.
ECCO Shoes
Ecco Shoes have removable footbeds in most styles which allows you to use your own orthotics. Built-in arch and heel reinforcements provide superior support and comfort with the optimum fit. The lightweight, durable construction has PU outer soles which will absorb impact with each step.
Rieker Shoes
Rieker shoes feature Antistress technology for fantastic comfort. Certain styles feature removable footbeds for individual orthotics or additional supports. Soft, flexible and lightweight designs are built on stitch construction sole units, one of the oldest and most popular methods of shoe-making.
Legero Shoes
Most Legero Shoes feature removable insoles, offering extra width or room for additional orthotics. The footbeds are anatomically shaped for firm support and comfort. The direct injection polyurethane sole units are lightweight, flexible, shock-absorbent AND extremely hard-wearing.
Padders Shoes
Padders Shoes are known for their wide fit shoes (E, EE, EEE and EEEE for women’s shoes) which offer a more comfortable fit for those who require the width. Removable insoles in most shoes provide additional room for orthotics and Padders shoes have built-in arch support.
Skechers Shoes
Skechers trainers feature super soft cushioned footbeds for the ultimate comfort from the very first moment. Soft, expandable fabric uppers will mould around your foot to give you a unique experience. The extremely lightweight designs are shock-absorbent thanks to the EVA sole units.
IMAC Shoes
IMAC Shoes are made from premium Italian leather and their shock-absorbing polyurethane outer sole units. The lightweight and flexible designs are extremely hard-wearing. There are supportive and cushioned footbeds for incredible comfort underfoot.
So, if you are suffering from this dreaded problem of Plantar Fasciitis and would like some really comfortable shoes (or just anytime you would like new shoes!) pop into one of our stores where our Society of Shoefitter trained members will help find you a pair… or 2 pairs… or more!