Many people are not conversant with the term plantar fasciitis until they experience heel pain or are diagnosed with this foot condition. Therefore, if you are reading this blog, you might have been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis or you are suffering from heel pain related to plantar fasciitis. Hence, you will be familiar with the terrible agony identified with plantar fasciitis. Having proper footwear for yourself goes a long way in helping to wipe out that torment. We have enumerated a few basic features that you should look for in your shoe if you are suffering from this problem.

Always consult your doctor to confirm the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis. They will assess your symptoms, examine you, and may even recommend some investigations like X-ray, Ultrasound, or MRI to confirm it. Treatment may involve physiotherapy, wearing heel support or insoles, injection in the heel, and even surgery. However, one thing that is downplayed is the characteristics that you need to look in footwear that can give you adequate relief from pain secondary to this foot pathology.

What are the most modest shoes for plantar fasciitis?

When checking out reviews on best plantar fasciitis shoe brands, there are five attributes you should try to notice.

1. A good arch and heel support

Shoes should provide good support to the arch and heel throughout the day. By doing this they would prevent the arch from flattening and hence foot pronation that can worsen the heel pain.

     2. Removable Insoles

Shoes, where insoles can be removed, are helpful as they give an option of changing the insoles to an over the counter orthotics or customized inserts in case they don’t work.

3. Deep Heel Cups

Also, deep heel cups keep your heel padded and maintain stability with every step you walk.

4. Firm heel counter

The heel counter is the area of the shoe at the back part of the heel over the insertion of the Achilles tendon. A firm heel counter helps in preventing the excessive stretching of the plantar fascia and hence minimizes the pain.

5. Shock Absorption

Finally, good plantar fasciitis brands should provide minimal impact to the foot when the foot hits a hard surface during walking. A good shock absorption may be provided with rubber outsoles.

Plantar fasciitis shoes should have the following features:

• Support
• A broad heel base to soak up shock
•  Removable insoles
• Back straps or support
• Deep heel cup
• Appropriately wide toe boxes
• Contoured and cushioned footbeds
• Flats or heels of not more than 2-3 inches (avoid high heel shoes or stilettos)
• Rocking motion technology to scale back heel stress

With this background, we have tried to enumerate the shoes available in the market which are good for people suffering from plantar fasciitis:

1. Asics- Gel Nimbus (20 and 22) and Gel-Venture (5,6 and 7)
2. Adidas- Running Edge Lux and Ultraboost
3. Nike Air Zoom Structure 22 and Lunar Glide
4. Skechers- Flex Advantage and Go Walk Slip-on Shoes
5. New Balance 1080

We encourage you to travel to the shop and check out these to urge the correct fit. Or, if you are shopping online, confirm there is a direct return policy in case they do not fit right. While these features are generally for those with a neutral arch, the characteristics change for those who have a high or low arch.

If you are suffering from heel pain, you can book an appointment with Dr. Anuj Chawla. He is an experienced foot and ankle specialist in Gurgaon and has treated a lot of patients in his career.