Best shoes for plantar fasciitis?
There’s no such thing as the best shoes for plantar fasciitis.
It’s an illusion!
How to chose your plantar fasciitis shoes?
Other ‘plantar fasciitis shoes’, were mentioned in the comment stream, of the survey (I never imagined there were so many, when I designed it):
- New Balance (2x)
- Kuru (1x)
- Trainers (1x)
- Frankie 4 (1x)
- Skechers (2x)
- Asics (4x)
- Gabor with my own insoles
- Vibrams (1x)
- Finn Comfort
- Brooks (2x)
- ALegria
- 2″ heels
- Joya
- Kuru
- Teva Sandals
- Saucony
- Naots
So, what do you conclude, from this long list of shoes? With shoes being the most successful treatment, based on my research program (download a copy of the plantar fasciitis research report at this link, if you so desire). Maybe you should go shopping for the best plantar fasciitis shoes you can find, or money can buy?
But is there is no such a thing as the best plantar fasciitis shoes!
My conclusion?
It’s not about the shoes!
It’s about what happens when you change your shoes.
Such shoe changes, with
- Lower or higher heel,
- More or less arch support,
- Structure that promotes pronation or supination,
- More or less shock absorption,
- Tighter or looser fit,
- Smaller or larger toe box,
- Softer or more rigid uppers,
- More or less gripping sole,
will change the way you move.
Whether you like it or not!
How about this one, in the survey, from respondent #65:
New Balance 990 [Made it better] – Hoka’s made it worse.
Read the following carefully, and think about it!
The effectiveness of ‘plantar fasciitis shoes’ has nothing to do with the brand of shoes. Nothing at all!
New Balance aren’t better for plantar fasciitis than Hoka One Ones.
It has to do with how respondent #65 responded to the change of shoes.
Another person might find the complete reverse situation. In fact, I’ve heard of success with Hokas.
This is why I promote the study of body-awareness, by modifying your body movement consciously, as opposed to completely randomly.
My latest product, Simple Movement Therapy, at this link, is designed to help busy people with this process, inexpensively.
But there are many other movement techniques to choose from, including Yoga, Pilates, Feldenkrais and Continuum.
If you do try a movement method, please consider filling out my Body Movement For Plantar Fasciitis Survey, at this link (all data made public).
I would think about that, before heading to the doctor for a cortisone shot, or worse, surgery!
Furthermore, there is no best non-shoe treatment for plantar fasciitis, either!
This goes for all the other treatments advertised out there, most of which are presented in FitOldDog’s Interactive Plantar Fasciitis Treatment Map.
It’s your body, so it’s your call.
I’d start with body-awareness training, if I were you!
Please keep sending your survey data, and consider publishing your own interpretations. This is important for the 2 to 3,000,000 plantar sufferers in the USA.
Wishing you happy feet and happy trails.
FitOldDog
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