General Rules for Purchasing a Shoe When You Have Plantar Fasciitis.
After you determine your arch, choose a shoe that is suitable for your arch.
• To minimize the risk, try to only buy shoes that are immediately comfortable,
not that you will need to “break in”. If you need the added support of arch
supports or plantar fascia inserts, it’s usually best to replace them with your new
shoes. If you don’t yet have a new pair, swap your old inserts into your new shoes
until you are able to replace them to ensure you always have proper support.
• While trying out shoes wear the socks you will normally be wearing.
• Try on shoes at the end of the day in case your feet swell during the day.
• Length of shoe. The shoe should be about a quarter inch longer than your
longest toe.
• Width of shoe. Depends on your overall comfort. Too narrow and your feet may
go numb. Too wide and your feet may slip.
• Heel to arch length. The widest part of your foot should line up with the widest
part of the shoe.
• The heel counter: Simply the back part of the shoe that cradles your heel.
Tighten the laces of the shoe to a comfortable level and the heel should not slip.
• If you have plantar fasciitis you may want to wear a shoe with a little more heel
which will decrease the pull from your heel cord. Heel height can be anywhere
from 1/3 inch up to ½ inch depending on comfort.
• Rotating footwear between at least two different types of shoes decreased the
incidence of plantar fasciitis by 72 percent. (study by Werner et. al 2010). The
time allows the soft material in the footwear to rebound and provide better
cushioning.
• Dress Shoes for Men: Leather shoes are not very cushioning and don’t absorb
shock very well. If possible, opt for a softer soled casual dress shoe. Just search for
soft soled dress shoe.
• Dress Shoes for Women: Women and high heels. If you can wear proper good
supporting footwear 90 percent of the time- you need not worry about the ten
percent of the time with high heels. If you are wearing high heels at work and
sitting most of the day- this is also not a problem.
• Work Shoes: Work shoes were designed for safety and not for comfort. You may
want to remove the sock liner. Replace it with an insert that is thick, supportive,
and comfortable.
• Hiking boots: Hiking boots tend to be great footwear for people with plantar
fasciitis. They have great arch support. However, if you are seeking more
“cushioning” in your footwear you may need to look elsewhere.
• Replace your footwear when you begin to see wear patterns that are more than
half of the treads in once area.
• Change positions often if on hard surfaces.
This video is a part of a series of videos on how to treat Plantar Fasciitis on your own. Check out the full series of videos along with downloadable guide sheets for each video on our website here: http://bobandbrad.com/programs
