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Shoe Inserts for Heel Pain Caused by Plantar Fasciitis: A Guide
Shoe inserts for heel pain go inside shoes to add arch support and cushioning. Over-the-counter orthotics and insoles replace removable footbeds in shoes.
Patients with heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis are often advised by doctors to wear supportive footwear whenever they bear weight so as not to strain and further injure the plantar fascia. The problem is that most footwear lacks good arch support. Podiatrists sometimes advise expensive custom made orthotic inserts for such shoes; other times they recommend patients try over-the-counter insoles. For those patients, therapeutic shoe inserts can replace the manufacturer's footbeds included in shoes with removable insoles. Unless otherwise directed by a health care provider, use orthopedic insoles in both shoes, even if the heel pain occurs only in one foot.
Brands of Shoe Inserts for Heel Pain
For heel pain related to plantar fasciitis, try over-the-counter shoe inserts by companies such as Sole, Lynco, Sorbothane, Spenco, Orthaheel, Pedag, and Superfeet. Some of these footbeds must be used with shoes that have removable insoles, but a few make inserts that will fit into dress shoes with little extra room in the instep.
These brands differ in price, in the materials they use and in their last - that is, the shape and contour of the insoles. No matter what the brand, most shoe inserts are covered with odor control and moisture wicking materials.
Sole footbeds are heat moldable and will custom-fit to your foot.
Sorbothane insoles use state-of-the-art cushioning material.
Superfeet inserts come in a number of different models made for running and particular sports.
Spenco insoles are a popular brand readily available in drugstores.
Orthaheel is an Australian company featuring footwear and insoles designed by a podiatrist.
Lynco insoles can be fitted specifically to your foot by trying them on in retail stores like The Walking Company.
Know Your Foot Arch: Low, High or Moderate
Because many sufferers of plantar fasciitis tend to excessively pronate and/or have flat feet, most therapeutic inserts are designed to prevent or correct overpronation and support a low to moderate arch. If you are in the minority of people who have plantar fasciitis and supinate, then you may have a rigid or high arch: try insoles such as Sole Softec, which uses serious cushioning, or a brand recommended by your podiatrist.
Fitting Orthopedic Insoles Into Shoes
The shoes into which the inserts will go should be well-fitting and already fairly comfortable; a shoe that is uncomfortably tight before orthopedic inserts are inserted will be even tighter afterward, due to the volume taken up by arch support. Some shoes, such as Drew, have shoe models with greater depth, in anticipation of custom orthotics, which makes them ideal for replacement footbeds bought over the counter.
When sizing shoe inserts, check the manufacturer's instructions. Note if the insoles come in wide, narrow or medium, or are trimmable to those widths. If you are between sizes, generally you're advised to choose the next size up. Some insoles and footbeds can be trimmed to make a "custom" fit; always trim along the front toe area, not the heel, and use the original shoe insole as a guide.
Use Shoe Inserts for Footwear Without Arch Support if You Have Heel Pain From Plantar Fasciitis
Some specialist sandal and shoe brands such as Birkenstock, Chaco, and Haflinger are known for the arch support and stability they provide to the foot, do not have removable footbeds, and no insoles are necessary or advised. However, most popular running shoes, casual footwear, sandals, boots, and formal or dress shoes do not come with the orthopedic arch support and anatomical footbeds that podiatrists recommend for heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis. For the most effective therapeutic support, choose the inserts with sufficient cushioning and the footbed shape that most closely matches the natural contours of your feet.
About the Author
Dr. Prateek Gupta
M.S., M.ch-orth(Livepool),FICS(USA),
D.Orth.(London), F.R.C.S - Orth(London),
Consultant Orthopedics & Sports Surgeon.
Sir Gangaram Hospital, Delhi
http://www.sportsmedicineclinicdelhi.com/
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