What Orthotics Are Good for Plantar Fasciitis?
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What is plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common complaints and foot conditions treated in podiatry clinics. As its name suggests, it is characterized by inflammation of the plantar fascia, the thick band of ligament that runs from your heel bone to the base of your toes.
The plantar fascia functions to provide arch support and plays an important role in propelling your foot forwards when you walk. Tension or stress can build up when it is overused.
Developing plantar fasciitis
There are a host of different ways one can develop plantar fasciitis, some of the more common causes include:
- You possess a foot deformity or misalignment (e.g. flat feet)
- You are on your feet (walking, standing, or jumping) for extended periods of time
- You wear shoes that are ill-fitting (e.g. dress shoes that pinch the toes together)
- Tight muscles, ligaments, or tendons in other parts of the foot, lower leg, or back
How do I know if I have plantar fasciitis?
Some of the more common symptoms of plantar fasciitis include:
- Heel pain or heel swelling
- Augmented pain following exercise and/or repetitive movement
- Heightened foot pain, particularly in the morning hours after awakening
How can I treat plantar fasciitis?
Your podiatrist will make treatment recommendations for your plantar fasciitis pain based on the root driver of your foot pain. Any condition that causes the foot arch to collapse, such as flat feet (over pronation), can often be the cause of plantar fasciitis injury. Tight calf muscles and shoes that provide little arch support (allowing the feet to roll inwards too much) are also frequent culprits of plantar fasciitis.
It follows then, that to treat plantar fasciitis, arch support is needed. This can effectively be provided by custom orthotics fitted to the unique structure of your feet.
Which plantar fasciitis orthotics do you recommend?
Full-length orthotic inserts with high arch support are great to relieve plantar fasciitis. A long insole will be better suited to provide cushioning to the entire length of the foot.
We also recommend orthotic inserts with cushioned heel cups as this is where the majority of patients feel stabbing pain. A deep heel cup also helps to stabilize the foot and reduce inflammation.
Got more questions about your foot pain and/or plantar fasciitis?
If you would like to inquire more about ongoing heel pain, shoe inserts, or choosing the best insoles for your plantar fasciitis, feel free to comment below or reach out to us at docpods.com/au.