Complete Guide To The Best Shoes For Plantar Fasciitis

If you’re one of the many people suffering from plantar fasciitis, then you know how painful this condition can be.

You make life choices based on what your feet will tolerate. You pick your outfits based on the few shoes you can wear comfortably.

The truth is, you don’t have to live every day in pain!

Thankfully, there are many ways to alleviate the symptoms and live a normal life. A great option is to find the best shoes for plantar fasciitis and wear them consistently.

When you aren’t sure what to look for in a quality pair of shoes, be sure to read this comprehensive guide to help you make the best selection.

​Top 10 Best Shoes For Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain. The flat ligament that connects your heel bone to the toes is called the plantar fascia.

If this tissue becomes strained, it can become weak, inflame and swell up. As you can imagine, this means your foot can hurt while standing or walking.

It occurs most often in middle aged people, or younger people who spend a lot of time on their feet. It’s also possible to have symptoms in just one foot or both at the same time.

Other reasons that you could suffer from plantar fasciitis are:

Some of the main complaints you’ll have with plantar fasciitis are generalized pain and stiffness in the bottom of your heel.

The pain can also be felt at times on the bottom of the mid-foot area.

The level of pain can differ per person. Some describe it as a dull achy pain, while others feel a sharp, stabbing pain.

You could also experience a burning or ache at the bottom of your foot extending out towards the heel.

This pain is often much worse first thing in the morning or after prolonged activity. Many people suffer after they climb the stairs due to the heel stiffness.

You may also find that anytime you’re doing repetitive movements, you suffer from increased inflammation.

While you might be okay during the activity, the pain itself tends to flare as soon as that activity ceases.

If you’re ready to take charge of the pain you experience and start living a normal life again, you’ll want to find the best shoes for plantar fasciitis.

Many people are thrilled to know that they can once again wear regular looking shoes with the relief they desire.

Here are my picks for the top 10 shoes to look out for.

Just because you have issues with your feet doesn’t mean you want to walk around wearing shoes that aren’t stylish.

Enjoy the warm months in a great pair of sandals that feature Orthaheel Technology for a comfortable fit.

They feature a soft woven toe post and foam-lined strap to ensure you’ll be comfortable all day long.

In addition, they’re lightweight, making them perfect for trips to the beach and pool.

The EVA midsole absorbs the shock that can often create more pain in the foot. This shoe also is known for reducing stress on the feet, ankles, and knees.

The best part is that this shoe is designed by a podiatrist and features a biomechanical orthotic sole.

It comes complete with a deep heel cup that won’t just feel good to wear, but will also help to support and realign your feet back to the natural position.

Here’s another great option from the same podiatrist-designed brand as our last option, a highly stylish walking shoe.

It’s a water-resistant leather sneaker with a shock-absorbing EVA midsole. The mesh upper layer allows for air to flow freely during exercise.

These sneakers don’t just bring comfort back to walking, the advanced Orthaheel technology features a biomechanical removable orthotic with anti-bacterial treatment.

The Orthaheel motion-controlling sole also has a contoured arch support and heel cup that will realign your foot to its proper positioning during use.

Created with a leather upper and blown rubber outsole, this walking shoe features comfort and design in one.

The higher instep, breathable perforations, and mesh tongue allow for maximum relief all day long.

Now, you can find a way to do your normal exercise routine without sacrificing comfort and support.

New Balance offers an impact-absorbing ABZORB midsole cushioning with this sneaker and a narrower heel with a wider forefoot. 

With the New Balance name behind this sneaker, you know it can be trusted and relied on.

Recommended by renowned Dr. Andrew Weil, this sandal is the perfect addition to any fun summer day or an exciting night on the town.

It’s made of leather and uses manmade or natural cork uppers with microfiber-covered sole.

This sandal features a lightweight, flexible EVA midsole to absorb the shock of daily life. This enables your feet, ankles, and knees to feel less stressed.

You also don’t need to worry about what surfaces you’re walking on. This shoe offers a durable, rubber outsole with a patterned tread to provide optimal traction no matter where you go.

The Orthaheel Technology is biomechanically designed to fully support your arches and feet with all-day comfort.

The orthotic that’s built-in to this sandal is shown to treat heel pain. You can easily adjust the sandal three ways so it fits snugly to your foot.

How comfortable does this pair of shoes look?

When you’re battling pain from your plantar fasciitis, this pair of shoes will feel like a breath of fresh air.

They're made from fabric or textile and feature a rubber sole.

The orthotic-grade arch support, metatarsal dome, and deep heel cupping are the three elements that make this slide a winner when dealing with food pain.

Combine the comfort of kick-off styles with the casual look you need to run the daily errands.

The weathered upper canvas, soft linings, and side gore are all going to allow maximum breathability for all-day comfort.

Here’s another option recommended by Dr. Andrew Weil to combat foot pain.

It features an EVA orthotic insert and Advanced Motion System (AMS) technology.

That'll keep your feet pain-free all day long. 

Slip-ons make it easy to wear around the house or out accomplishing your daily tasks. 

The Vionic Brand has been a leader in the shoe market for people with foot pain.

This walking shoe features breathable, lightweight mesh and a removable dual density EVA footbed that was designed by a podiatrist.

For exceptional comfort and performance all in one, this is your sneaker. 

This shoe is known to be a recovery shoe to use after sports, walking, running and other forms of movement.

When your feet hurt, this is the pair of shoes you want to relax in.

You may even find that you want to wear them all the time.

They’ve been endorsed by movie stars, orthopaedic surgeons, chiropractors and podiatrists all around the world. 

This is a great option when you need orthotic support for almost any foot issue.

It offers contoured orthotic inserts, anatomical arch support, and a gel padded heel-seat to provide all around support for all foot ailments.

It’s a great option to continue with a normal exercise routine in comfort. 

Here’s another great choice from Orthofeet.

This version also contains the same contoured orthotic inserts and anatomical arch support.

 Along with the gel padded heel-seat, this provides maximum relief from most foot issues.

Complete your walks and workouts without the pain you normally feel in your feet. 

Aside from finding the best pair of shoes for pain relief, there are many other steps you can take to make life a little more comfortable.

Try these simple and practical tips to help change your life.

1. Stretch your calves before getting up in the morning

While you’re still in bed, take a towel or belt and loop it around the ball of your foot.

While you keep your leg straight, pull the towel towards your body until you achieve a stretching sensation.

Hold that pose for 30 seconds if possible and repeat up to 5 times.

This will help fight against that first thing in the morning pain many people experience.

2. Massage

Everyone looks forward to a great massage, so why not make an excuse to treat yourself.

If you want a cheaper massage, grab yourself a tennis ball and place it on the ground.

Roll it gently under the foot for a few minutes at a time to loosen up the plantar fascia.

Make sure you’re applying enough pressure on the ball to feel the benefits of the massage.

3. Rest

Seems like a no-brainer, but many people don’t follow through on this.

If certain activities are causing you pain, take a break from them when possible.

4. Ice

Cold treatments done right before bed seem to have more effect than heat when it comes to foot pain.

5. Braces and supports

Several options are available as treatments for providing some additional stabilization and support.

Use a night splint to stretch your calf and the arch of your foot. This will hold your foot in the flexed position through the night and hopefully reduce some of that pain you feel in the morning.

There are also many orthotics, or arch supports that can be placed directly in the shoes to distribute pressure evenly. This will reduce pain but can sometimes create further damage to the plantar fascia.

6. Physical therapy

Many people find this option to be effective at treating plantar fasciitis.

It encourages the stretching needed to feel relief and the physical therapist is going to have the optimal workouts for you to do.

7. Cortisone injections

If other methods aren’t appearing to be effective at managing your pain, you could always speak with your doctor about these injections.

Generally, they’ll provide immediate relief and can last for a few weeks.

8. Surgery

As a last effort when all else has failed, your physician may recommend surgery. This isn't a decision you want to make lightly, however.

There are two methods that have been used. First, you can have the plantar fascia partially detached from the heel bone, but that will weaken the arch of the foot.

 Second, you can lengthen the calf muscle to provide relief.

If you’re one of the many people suffering from this painful ailment, I hope you’ve found my guide to be helpful. Plantar fasciitis doesn’t have to run your life any longer.

Between the stretching exercises and treatments available plus the best shoes for plantar fasciitis, you can be back to your favorite activities in no time.

Now you can plan your schedule based on what you want to do, not just what your feet will allow you to accomplish.

If this article has helped you to feel better and reduce pain, please share it so others can experience the same benefits.

If you’re interested in some stretching exercises to help you reduce pain, you’ll want to check out this YouTube video.