1. Powerstep Pinnacle Shoe Insoles For Plantar Fasciitis
2. Dr. Scholl’s Insoles For Plantar Fasciitis Pain Relief
3. Footminders Comfort Orthotic Arch Support Insoles For Plantar Fasciitis
4. Sof Sole Full-Length Gel Shoe Insert
7. Tread Labs Stride Insole
Insole For Plantar Fasciitis Buying Guide & FAQ
How We Chose Our Selection Of Insoles For Plantar Fasciitis
When it comes to medical conditions we always seek input from relevant health professionals. In this case we polled GPs and well as orthopedists to get their opinion about which insoles are most effective for plantar fasciitis and why. We also considered:
Reviews - We looked at a ton of customer and third party reviews like we always do. And, as always we did our best Olympic judge routine by tossing the overly enthusiastic or scathing reviews and concentrating on the rest. Our goal is to see if we can identify commonalities within the remaining reviews that might inform our choices. At the end of the day we take all this into consideration but make up our own mind.
Quality - We examined dozens of different plantar fasciitis insoles as well as insoles that are not marketed specifically as being for PI but which people with that condition have told us are helpful to them. We assess them for comfort, compatibility with different types of shoes and of course build quality.
Price - While most of the best insoles for plantar fasciitis are very reasonably priced (between about $10 and $25) there are insoles out there that can cost considerably more. Only one of them made our list because it was highly regarded by both customers and medical professionals.
Features To Look For In Plantar Fasciitis Insoles
Material - When it comes to this type of specialized insole there are four types of material that are typically used in their fabrication: gel, foam, leather and cork. Which material seems the best match for you will be your choice, hopefully informed by input from a qualified orthopedist. That said, cork is used less and less these days, leather has been on the way out for the better part of two decades and most of the best insoles for plantar fasciitis today are fashioned from either gel or foam.
Support - The amount of support the insole provides your arches is one of the most important considerations when choosing the right insole to deal with your plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia at the root of your discomfort plays a key role in supporting the various contours of your foot. Therefore, the job of the insole is to help relieve some of the stress on the plantar fascia so that it has a chance to heal. If the insoles don’t do that you’re simply wasting both time and money. When choosing an insole then, always make sure it adheres as closely as possible to the form and height of your arch.
Comfort - Support is key in choosing the right plantar fasciitis insoles but comfort has to play a part as well. After all, you’re going to be wearing these things all day almost every day. Comfort tends to be a product of three things:
Arch support - Arch support leads the list because if you are not getting the proper arch support your plantar fascia is going to continue to complain and make your life miserable. So the first step on the road to comfort is to alleviate the pain. And proper support is the best way to do that.
Material - As we mentioned cork and leather have fallen largely out of favor and been replaced in recent years with plantar fasciitis insoles fashioned from gel or foam. The number 1 reason these materials have gained primacy is because they’re more comfortable. So before you decide to go old school and opt for cork insoles take a minute and reconsider. For comfort’s sake.
Length - Plantar fasciitis relief doesn’t always call for a full length insole. Although most people will default to full length just to make sure they have all their bases covered there may be times when full length insoles are not necessary. Insoles for plantar fasciitis can either extend to the end of the arch, to the balls of the feet or all the way to the end of the toes. If the pain does not project beyond the heel area and the balls of the feet and the toes are largely unaffected, there may be no compelling reason to get full length plantar fasciitis insoles.
Durability - Nobody wants their insoles to fall apart after a couple of weeks. To avoid this make sure you don’t buy your insoles based solely (so to speak) on price. Look at what others are saying about the product and consider any input from your orthopedist or general practitioner.
Insole For Plantar Fasciltis FAQ
Q: Do insoles help plantar fasciitis?
A: In most cases, yes. Although in some cases your doctor may prescribe some preliminary treatment first in order to reduce acute pain to manageable levels before moving on to plantar fasciitis insoles. That preliminary treatment may include taping of the foot or certain medications.
Q: What treatment is best for plantar fasciitis?
A: In the vast majority of cases the right pair of insoles will provide plantar fasciitis relief. Unfortunately, if the condition has been allowed to fester a person may wind up needing surgery to try and correct the problem. Most doctors try to discourage a surgical cure simply because the condition so often responds well to insoles. However, if it is apparent no other type of treatment is working, surgery will be indicated as a last resort. Keep in mind too that surgery is not always successful in alleviating the pain associated with this condition and you may wind up needing plantar fasciitis insoles afterward anyway. The best course of action is to see your doctor as soon as symptoms appear and not wait until the problem is beyond the scope of insoles to address.
