Wearing good shoes at all times is very important in treating plantar fasciitis and avoiding it in the first place. Sometimes wearing poorly fitting or designed shoes can cause plantar fasciitis. Avoid walking barefoot or wearing flip-flops as the lack of cushioning for the heel can damage the plantar fascia. Ideally, shoes should have no or minimal heel (for ladies, don’t wear heels over 3 inches), a well-cushioned sole, and soft arch support. Some shoes often lack sufficient cushioning, especially in the heel and front foot, and don’t permit adequate amount of structural support along the arch and mid-foot. With better cushioning and support of good shoes, the strain on the heel and along the foot during exercise can be lowered by a large amount, preventing plantar fasciitis.

The fit of a shoe is crucial, particularly plantar fasciitis shoes running. Wearing small shoes can aggravate plantar fasciitis. When shopping for shoes or trying on shoes that have been purchaed and delivered online, patients should ensure they do so late in the day. This is because as the day progresses, feet swell and become slightly bigger than at the start of the day. Furthermore, it is common for people to have one foot that is slightly wider than the other. If so, patients should check the fit based on how the larger foot feels. Better that shoes be slightly too big (on the smaller foot) than the other way around.

When testing shoes, focus on the padding and arch support, heel, and front of your feet. Comfort is the most important factor and there shouldn’t be any pressure points on any single part of the foot. Select shoes with a slightly broader toe area to reduce any troubles with bunions or other toe complaints.

Shoes designed for plantar fasciitis have treatments built into the innersole of the shoe, allowing you to treat the injury without adding special insoles.

Some shoes have special devices which apply the right amount of pressure to the plantar fascia, stretching it the required amount and reducing pain and swelling. Furthermore, plantar fasciitis shoes are designed with integrated structural support round the heel to protect it from any further harm.

Catching plantar fasciitis early and a detailed treatment schedule are important for curing plantar fasciitis. If treatment is delayed or deficient in the initial stages of plantar fasciitis, the condition can take nearly eighteen months or more to be fully healed. Nonetheless by sticking to a properly structured treatment plan and blending some of the individual treatments available, luckily in the vast majority of cases, non-surgical treatment leads to a fully recovery. Only in the most extreme of cases is surgery required.