What to Wear for Plantar Fasciitis

Guest blogger: Maya. Full article at happyrunningfeet.com

Plantar Fasciitis is a nasty pain in your foot, mostly in the heel area. According to WebMD, you can get PF from putting too much strain on your feet, like if you are an athlete. It can also be caused by sudden weight gain, for example from pregnancy. 

Plantar Fasciitis is when your fascia at the bottom of your foot gets tiny tears. It very seldom rips completely. Once you have PF, it is best to start treatment immediately. If it is ignored and you carry on with your normal activities, it will get worse and therefore take much longer to heal. Some cases even go on for years!

If you lead an active and sporty lifestyle, you are highly susceptible to Plantar Fasciitis. Many runners push themselves and overstrain, which causes little tears in the fascia. As running is very much an ingrained part of our lifestyle and daily habit, we will want to keep running as usual, even though each step feels like you are pushing a nail into your heel.

This is where your dress code comes in. Even though you might suffer from PF, you may still be able to continue running (UNLESS your podiatrist tells you not to. Listen to your doctor!). The key is to wear a pair of running shoes that promote:

• Cushioning
• Arch support 
• Shock absorption

You can combine good quality running shoes with insoles to maximize all three of these aspects. The most suitable running shoes are Asics Gel Kayano and New Balance 1540. These shoes also offer motion control to a degree, making them suitable for over pronators as well. Keep in mind that each individual's feet differ from the next person. What works for one Plantar Fasciitis sufferer might not work for the next. For example, I have met a runner who swears by barefoot running to get rid of PF. I cannot even start to imagine running with barely any cushioning whilst I have stabbing heel pain. Not for me!

Let us know if Maya's tips help your Plantar Fasciitis. For more from today's guest blogger, visit happyrunningfeet for tips on the best shoes to wear for flat feet.