Best Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis

sonyareichweinmcintosh
sonyareichweinmcintosh Posts: 3 Member
edited August 2015 in Fitness and Exercise
I have been suffering with PF for 6 months. It gets better, then it gets worse. I finally saw my doctor; 1. stretching exercises, 2. rolling a tennis ball under my foot, 3. get good shoes, and 4. lose weight. She did not put me in night splints, that would probably be next. I think that if I'd gone sooner, she would have me in them by now.

I'm working on the shoe angle so I can work on the weight issue. I picked up some vionics for work, they really do feel pretty good. I also have some birks for around the house.

I hiked 6 miles in saucony's and felt pretty good, just some tenderness (23k steps that day). I walked 4 miles in town in the same shoes (11k steps that day), and am in excruciating pain! I think the difference was the concrete surface.

So, any advice on the best shoes for PF? Particularly for walking on hard surfaces? I would like to increase my hiking also.

Thanks!

Sonya

Replies

  • Char231023
    Char231023 Posts: 700 Member
    Concrete does it for me I cannot run or walk any extended period of time on concrete.
  • SaintsFanBob
    SaintsFanBob Posts: 17 Member
    I had PF last year and finally caved and spent more than I ever thought I would ($90 online) for a pair of Brooks. I swear by them now and haven't had the slightest issue since switching from my Saucony and Asics. I would go to a store and try them on and get on a treadmill and then go home and search for them. I bought mine at sportchalet.com and they were $30-40 cheaper than at Sports Authority.
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    concrete can do that
    berks can do that too. some don't have great support

    also consider stride. I have a completely different stride walking and running
    when I hike or walk, I have a tendency to overpronate
    running, I underpronate.
    so I have two different shoes
  • rileyes
    rileyes Posts: 1,406 Member
    Crocs if it is around the house. Gel in the heel area can help.
  • CricketClover
    CricketClover Posts: 388 Member
    I wear Birks almost daily to work, Orthoheel are also good (I think they are either the same as vionics or owned by same?), I wear Brooks with Superfeet insert for exercise. If wearing Birks make sure it is the original footbed and not the squishy one, at least that is what I go for.
  • Eudoxy
    Eudoxy Posts: 391 Member
    Asics with blue super feet inserts worked best for me. I had a pair of crocs around the house that I had never worn that I started putting on the second I got out of bed, too.
    But stretching, rolling and kneading my calf made the biggest difference. People suggested it was probably coming from there, but I didn't think it was since it wasn't sore. But sure enough, I could find certain trigger points in my calf that gave me immediate relief in my foot.
  • sonyareichweinmcintosh
    sonyareichweinmcintosh Posts: 3 Member
    Thank you all for responding. It sounds like super feet insoles are definitely the way to go and either Brooks or asics for my walks.

    Sonya
  • rileyes
    rileyes Posts: 1,406 Member
    I use the green SuperFeet for high arches. They are almost identical to some custom inserts made for me at a running store. I don't know if they will offer instant relief like the softer gel heel during your recovery-- you may need to alternate as you adjust.
  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    I would only wear insoles for activities that actually cause pain. Wearing them all the time weakens the arch even more (PF is usually from arch degeneration), so try to gradually wean yourself off insoles completely. The Strassburg sock is good for restoring arch flexibility - gives a deeper arch stretch than night splints. For walking on concrete, i'd try Altra Olympus - they have a large stack height and no heel drop.
  • rileyes
    rileyes Posts: 1,406 Member
    @Cherimoose --I read that all the time. I walk barefoot as much as possible to strengthen my feet. I lift barefoot too. I think it is a gradual process. I would definitely heal from the PF first. And the Strassburg sock certainly helps.

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