11 Best Shoes For Plantar Fasciitis (2024)

Shoes For Plantar Fasciitis:

And don’t worry about it feeling too snug’the slightly wider toe box gives your toes plenty of room to move. In fact, they’ll make you feel like you could just keep walking without your feet ever getting tired. This is the first pair we’ve worn that felt just as good as our other shoes’without the need for orthopedic insoles. The plantar fascia is a shock-absorbing, bowstring-like ligament that connects your heel to your toes, explains New York City-based podiatrist Miguel Cunha. This ligament stretches out when you stand, which can cause micro-tears that contribute to weakness, swelling, and irritation of the plantar fascia. The best running shoes for plantar fasciitis have a wide toe box, are highly cushioned, and have a rigid midsole, good arch support, and a large heel drop.

The goal is for the sneaker to ‘benefit all foot types to help with plantar fasciitis, knee, and low back pain,’ says Dr. Lobkova. To take pressure off the fascia, you should avoid going barefoot at all times, Dunn says. That means wearing shoes as often as possible, even when you’re walking around the house. The slip-on style of the slipper also makes it easy to put on when you first step out of bed’just what foot experts recommend. They feature a deep heel cup to enhance stability, substantial arch support, and a firm yet flexible midsole. We noticed a unique heel cup rim around the edge of the heel, with a small oval cushion in the center of the heel for extra comfort.

“Proper” here depends on your natural arch height ‘ I have high arches, so I analyzed which shoes would be most supportive for someone with a mid to high arch. If you have low arches or flat feet, it’s smart to check my selections for yourself. When you are in serious pain you really don’t care about much else, which is why this was the most important test. If I was trying a pair of shoes that didn’t play nice with PF, I’d know it in just a few minutes. When I was having less serious flare-ups, I’d learn this by later that night, I wished I’d worn more supportive shoes.

These upgraded Oxfords are so cute you wouldn’t think of them as orthopedic footwear. But thanks to the hidden heavily padded, foam-y midsoles they’ll feel as cushioned as a sneaker. The added bonus of rubber in the heel and forefoot gives plenty of stability while still feeling lightweight on a work commute.

Dr. Sims points out that it’s also compatible with inserts, including bulkier custom orthotics. This comfortable walking shoe from Kuru is designed to help alleviate foot pain, including the discomfort that comes with plantar fasciitis. We documented every detail of the shoes we tried, from the cushioning and the construction to the responsiveness and the arch support. We also paid close attention to the shoe’s fit and toe box and considered how comfortable the shoes were on our feet as well as how our plantar fasciitis responded to wearing the shoes. They’re also quite durable, with water-resistant synthetic straps, quick-drying jersey knit lining and a soft nylon toe post. At home, Dr. DeJesus advises ‘avoid barefoot walking as you will lose the support and stray backwards on foot health.’ Kuru’s slippers use an ‘energy return foam’ in their slippers.

If symptoms worsen, head to a doctor or physical therapist to get proper diagnosis and treatment. Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Pain relievers you can buy without a prescription such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) can ease the pain and inflammation of plantar fasciitis.

The shoes were breathable enough to maintain a good temperature, though in black they did feel a little warmer than others we tried. “It provides a reliable, smooth, feeling,” our contributor said in her testing of the best Brooks running shoes. That comes through even on hard pavement, roads and streets thanks to its cushioned heel and lightweight, versatile design.” Schaeffer says that the Ghost 15 does a bang-up job of alleviating stress on the heel, which is a big contributor to plantar fasciitis pain. That’s because of its neutral design, which is cushioned, but not plush, to keep your heels from rocking and rolling during runs. No wonder our fitness editors say it’s the brand’s best daily running shoe.

This tissue is similar to a ligament’ it’s strong and stretchy, providing both support and flexibility to the area. That nagging pain likely continues into your day, too’reminding you of its presence whenever you walk, run, or walk up stairs. Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation in your plantar fascia, a lining of connective tissue made navigate here up of collagen fibers that keeps all the 26 bones in your foot together. It provides just enough stability to support the joints, while still allowing the foot some flexibility to form as it needs to for movement. These fit slightly larger than other Brooks shoes we’ve tried, so it’s worth trying a half size smaller than your usual.

It took us about 30 minutes to break in the sturdy midsole, but other than that the fit was great out of the box, and we never experienced any pain or blisters while wearing the shoes. Although the shoes do a great job hugging your feet, the toe box also provides adequate room to allow your toes to move freely. The heel cup hugs your heel and doesn’t allow click this link now any slipping at all, keeping your heel secure the entire time. The shoes were ready to wear right out of the box and didn’t require any breaking-in period, and we didn’t experience any uncomfortable rubbing or blisters throughout the entire test. The shoe has stability features for overpronators, like an angled inset designed to smooth out your stride.

These slip-ons have a stylish Mary Jane silhouette that’s made from breathable, knitted fabric to cut down on blister-causing friction and unpleasant odors. And they don’t skimp on comfort, either’with solid arch support, a deep heel cup, and removable insoles lined with gel cushioning, the Lily is built to help you go the distance. Right out of the box, WalkHero Hit Road Arch Support non-slip walking shoes fit like a glove.

One of our editors also noticed an increase in hip flexor pain from an existing injury while testing these shoes. The snug fit (see note around sizing below) held every part of our feet blog firmly in place. Although the additional cushioning definitely reduced space for our toes, the trade-off is extra stability, which will appeal to anyone carrying knee or ankle injuries.

And that feeling only got better as we took our first steps in these shoes. Plus, these shoes provided ample room for our feet to breathe and our toes to move’yet didn’t compromise on stability in the process. The editor who tried these is also a CrossFit instructor, who spends a lot of time on his feet. Even while doing squats, he noticed less pain in our knees and improved form, as these shoes allowed him to stay on his heels with no pain. ‘When you put on the ‘right’ walking shoes your feet are well supported with ample room in breathable, accommodative material,’ says Dr. Johnson.

Parthasarathy says they earn the APMA seal of approval because of this balance of cushion and support. We like them for all those reasons plus the fact they’re available in a huge range of colorways, including white, which is what also earned them the best tennis shoes category. It only takes one especially uncomfortable flare up of heel and arch pain to realize the importance of proper footwear. Thankfully, the best shoes for plantar fasciitis can relieve the tension in your feet and help you avoid these frustrating days in the first place. We spoke with physical therapists and podiatrists to find the right shoes for anyone who deals with this condition. These Walk Hero shoes fit like a glove, and we immediately felt the cushion and support in the arch in particular.