When it comes to shoes, socks, and custom orthotics for plantar fasciitis, you may wonder, “Do they really work?” Plantar fasciitis is a common type of heel and foot pain that many people suffer from daily. It is caused by inflammation in the tendon that goes from the heel down to the toes. This condition can cause pain for those who have not found a way to heal it.
This tendon technically runs through a good majority of the foot. The patient may either feel pain throughout the whole bottom of their foot or in a specific area if something is wrong with this tendon.
What are Some Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis?
Individuals with this kind of condition may experience a number of symptoms when it starts to act up. This includes pain in the heel, the arch, and even a type of foot-burning sensation. The pain can vary from mild and a little bit annoying all the way to burning pain that makes it hard to stand up much during the day.
The good news is that this disorder can be treated and will go away if the individual acts on it quickly. And there are several options that they can choose to provide them with the right treatment. Choices like shoes, socks, braces, and custom orthotics tend to be the most efficient for relieving the pain and making the individual feel better.
Understanding Plantar Fasciitis
Before we take a look at some of the treatment options available for this condition, we need to look at what plantar fasciitis is all about. This is basically a medical condition that is named after the plantar fascia. This is a ligament responsible for connecting together the heel to the front of the foot, providing support to our arches.
Any time we walk around or work out, this ligament is going to help our body to diffuse the shocks and absorb some of it. If you put it under too much strain or pressure all the time, it can start to feel inflamed and become tender or in pain. This develops into the orthopedic condition known as plantar fasciitis.
How Did I Get Plantar Fasciitis?
Basically, this condition is going to occur from the accumulation of stress when a lot of trauma is put on the plantar fascia. The trauma can come from many factors and some people will have more risk compared to others. The most common is from excessive walking or running, wearing the wrong kind of footwear, or even reactive arthritis.
Anyone who has plantar fasciitis will attest that living with this condition can be difficult. The pain that comes with this condition can be debilitating and chronic. It is also able to reduce the mobility of the person and when that happens, it is time to look into some of the various treatment options that are available.
How Do Doctors Diagnose Plantar Fasciitis?
While the patient may feel some of the pain already, it is going to need a formal diagnosis by your doctor or another medical professional. This can often be done with a physical examination by your chosen doctor. Sometimes the doctor is going to do an ultrasound to see whether the issue is plantar fasciitis or other conditions that are causing the pain.
However, it is possible that you have dealt with this condition for a long time and you know there is something wrong. When the foot is sore and stiff and there is sometimes an abnormal bony prominence that happens, and if the pain tends to be worse in the morning or shortly after you get up from sitting for a long time, this is a sign you have plantar fasciitis.
During the visit with your doctor, they will be able to look for the plantar fasciitis and then give you a treatment plan that works for you. the good news is that with a bit of self-care, such as looking through some of the options below, the plantar fasciitis will be able to help you deal with the plantar fasciitis.
What Happens if I Do Not Treat Plantar Fasciitis?
It is not uncommon for those with symptoms of plantar fasciitis to ignore it until it begins to affect their ability to do daily activities. By the time they start to look for treatment, it is possible that a lot of work needs to be done to help with the plantar fasciitis.
As the pain from plantar fasciitis gets worse, the heel pain that used to show up in the morning can become more intense and can last for longer. it is possible that you will start to feel sharp pain in the first few steps after you sit still and there could be some stabbing pain when you go through periods of rest.
Without the interventions to help minimize or control the problem, it is possible that you will be in pain all day, even if you abstain from exercise, hoping it will get better. There is always some stress on the feet, which can worsen the damage to the ligament and can lead to plantar fascia tears.
What Not to Do With Plantar Fasciitis
Untreated plantar fasciitis is going to result in constant severe heel pain that is going to make it hard to do regular activities and can last for a long time. If the issue becomes too bad, it could cause a disability.
It is best to find a good treatment to help with this condition, rather than letting it get worse. There are a lot of steps that you can take to help with this, such as choosing shoes, socks, braces, and custom orthotics to name a few. Getting treatment early on can help to prevent issues from getting worse.
Ways to Treat Plantar Fasciitis
While some really severe forms of plantar fasciitis are going to include surgery and intense treatments, there are some easy treatments that you can use that will not cause as much damage and do not require long stays at the hospital.
Patients who are dealing with plantar fasciitis should consider some of these options. This can include shoes, socks, braces, and even custom orthotics. Each of these provide some support to the plantar fasciitis tendon, which can help relieve the pressure and give it time to heal.
With so many options to choose from, it is sometimes hard to know which one will be right for plantar fasciitis.
More Support in Your Shoes is Important in Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
Shoes with some arch support will provide help with plantar fasciitis. You will be able to wear these shoes and often feel relief from the pain pretty quickly. This can help to restore some of the mobility, even when the pain happens in the morning.
While these shoes are going to be slightly more expensive compared to traditional shoes, they are easy to find and provide more relief than you can get by wearing shoes without arch support. You may need to try a few different sizes to see what level of arch you will need to be comfortable with and get some of the relief that you need.
The reason these shoes will work so well is because of the arch-supporting nature of these shoes, providing you with a good way to prevent the pain from coming back during the day. It is common for those with plantar fasciitis to have a lot of pain near the arch of the feet, in the location where this tendon is located.
Shoes with Poor Arch Support
If the individual wears shoes with poor arch support, they are placing an intense amount of strain on their feet, especially on this tendon. The effects are not going to last that long, but they can put an extended amount of trauma on the feet. This is even more true when we look at shock absorption for the feet.
With the right shoes that have arch support, you can counteract some of the negatives that come with no arch support. Many individuals notice a large change in the pain they feel after wearing the shoes for a short amount of time.
While it can take a little bit of time to get used to the arch support if you did not have any to start with, you will find that this is an effective way to deal with the issue. You will notice less pain and get the benefit of your foot being in the right position. You can find some with good arch support at a shoe store or you can choose to go with a specialty chosen for good results.
Why is it So Important for Someone with Plantar Fasciitis to Get a Good Pair of Shoes?
There are many treatments for this condition, but a good pair of shoes is a good way to protect against the pain of plantar fasciitis and makes it less likely that you will have pain in the future.
You can find the right pair of shoes in no time. They can be in the form of good tennis shoes or even a good pair of sandals, depending on the time of year that you want to put them on. With the right shoes from the start, you can provide some good support to your plantar fasciitis and see the pain go away.
Make sure that you take the time to find a good pair of shoes. Going for orthotic arch support is one of the best options to choose. Just because the shoe promises to have arch support does not mean it has the right kind of support. It could be too high or not high enough. With the help of the right orthotic arch, you can get some relief from plantar fasciitis.
Socks are High on the List of Ways to Treat Plantar Fasciitis
Most pregnant women are familiar with what compression socks are and how they can work to provide some relief. While many women would wear these during the pregnancy to help reduce the swelling that happens in their legs, especially if they sit down for a good portion of the day, it is possible to also use these compression socks to help with plantar fasciitis.
Sometimes compression socks may require your doctor to write a prescription to get some of the best options, but there are some compression socks available over the counter for you to choose from. There are several zones in the socks that will help you to work on the foot and keep it in the right position, while providing support and reducing inflammation, to help heal plantar fasciitis.
Zone-1: Found neat the toes of the socks and provides light compression. These have a flat and smooth closure.
Zone-2: This one will provide a moderate compression to the lower foot. It is a good choice to boost venous flow and support the structure of the foot.
Zone-3: This is going to provide a good deal of firm compression. This is going to work on lifting the plantar fascia tendon while supporting the venous flow.
Zone-4: This one goes back to moderate compression. It is designed to shape and fit to the foot.
Zone-5: This goes back to the firm compression. This is going to be the part of the sock that goes around the heel and can support the Achilles heel, the plantar fascia, and will help to boost the venous system.
Zone-6: This is an area of light compression. This is going to include a non-binding fit.
Benefits of compression socks
Finding the right type of compression socks can be a good way to reduce some of the pain that you may feel when you have plantar fasciitis. These socks are good at reducing the swelling in your feet, decreasing muscle soreness, and improving circulation. If you are dealing with calf cramping, these socks are enough to decrease this issue as well.
The socks are able to help increase more support in the arches, even if you are not wearing shoes during the day. It also has some great medical-grade compression zones that will provide support to all different parts of the foot so it stays in place and things do not slip around or become more painful.
Plantar Fasciitis Socks Tips
To get the most out of your plantar fasciitis sock, you need to get them customized and choose ones that are going to fit you the best. First, consider the amount of compression that you need. You can choose between mild, moderate, firm, and extra-firm compression. You also need to consider how much pressure, and in what areas, you need for your foot.
Next, consider the sizing. Socks that are too tight will cause more harm to the foot than good. But if the sock is too loose, you will not be able to get any benefit at all. you may need to try on a few pairs and see how it fits and see whether it fits right or not.
A Word of Caution Regarding Socks for Plantar Fasciitis:
Be careful with the thickness of the sock as well. If they become too thick, it may be hard to put them on with shoes. A thinner sock can still provide you with some of the support and compression that you need, while still being comfortable while you wear your shoes during the day.
These socks are a simple option that the patient is able to choose to keep their feet healthy and comfortable. They can choose to wear them at night or any time they need to sit down for a long period of time. These can provide some more support, without having to wear shoes, and can help to keep the pain of the feet down to a minimum.
Braces for Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
For some individuals, using a plantar fasciitis brace is a good way to relieve some of the pain and make your foot feel better. These work really well for those who wake up with heel pain, especially in the morning, this type of brace will help position the foot so that it is able to function without the pain when they first wake up.
For anyone who has a lot of pain when they first get up in the morning and need to move around quite a bit before they can walk normally, having a plantar fasciitis brace is going to help. This brace will also help to cut out on the nightly stretches the sufferer needs to use, though they should still do those on a regular basis as well.
It is best if the individual is able to put the brace on during the night and sleep with it there. This can help to align the foot quite a bit and will prevent some of the pain in the morning. If the individual struggles to wear one of these braces during the evening, wearing it with a walking boot during the day can still provide some benefits as well.
There are two types of braces that are meant to help with plantar fasciitis. The one that you choose will depend on the type of pain you have or where the pain starts.
The Two Most Common Types Are the Dorsal and the Posterior Plantar Fasciitis Brace
The posterior brace is going to be a good remedy for the relief of heel pain during the night. It is a boot shape that is going to stretch the plantar fascia by making sure the foot is held at the proper angle to extend the ligament, preventing it from getting too tight or going in the wrong position during the night.
The second option is the dorsal brace. This is going to strap onto the foot, rather than being able to slide it onto the foot like a boot or a shoe. The dorsal part will refer to how this device is going to work on the front of the foot. This is sometimes more comfortable than wearing the posterior brace, but there is a higher risk of it slipping off during the night.
A Word of Caution Regarding Braces for Plantar Fasciitis:
Be careful about the sizing of the braces that you choose. You want to go with braces that are comfortable and are able to provide a good deal of support, so a bit of tightness is good. But if you go too tight, it can end up causing more damage to that area of the foot than you want. If you are uncertain about the type to get, contact your doctor for help with the sizing.
Custom Orthotics are the Best Option for Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
Another option that a customer can try is a custom orthotic to provide relief from plantar Fasciitis. A quality pair of these orthotics are able to support the arch and can cushion a deteriorating and sensitive heel pad, giving the individual some of the relief that they need.
When it comes to conservative treatments that are effective without the pain, custom orthotics are going to be some of the best. There is a wide range of types of orthotics that you can choose from and several price points that can make custom orthotics the right choice for you.
In the past, if a customer needed a pair of custom orthotics for plantar fasciitis, they would need to visit a podiatrist who would do the work to create a custom orthotic. Now, there are more convenient online choices that are just as custom and quality. These allow all patients to get their pair of custom orthotics, even without leaving the home.
How to Get Custom Orthotics Online
This process begins by you simply requesting a footprint imprint kit, along with a list of questions that you are able to fill out online. This can help the team know where you are having pain, the length and the width of the foot, and any other needs that you need out of the orthotic.
This process is really quick as well. It is often even faster than what the podiatrist is able to do. You can get the custom orthotics within a month so you can get the relief that you need from your foot pain.
For someone who has more than one type of foot issue that they would like to handle at the same time, then the custom orthotic is a great choice, especially for plantar fasciitis. You can get an orthotic that is made for the exact shape of your foot to ensure you get the best comfort and relief from pain.
How Do I Know Which Option is Best for Me?
All of these options are going to provide some relief to the plantar fasciitis that you have. So, which one are you supposed to choose to get some relief and make sure that your tendon is getting stretched out and not ruined and causing pain to you along the way?
It will often depend on how severe the condition is and which one will provide the best support when you need it the most. While most will not jump right to the custom orthotic if the pain just started, they may choose the brace or some of the socks and shoes to see if those help. If they are put on early in the process, they may be enough to provide some relief.
Plantar Fasciitis Pain
There are also many times when the individual will try to ignore the pain and it ends up getting worse than before. If this has gone on and is not getting better, you may need to go with a brace or one of the custom orthotics to help you get some of the healing that you need.
If you are uncertain about which method is going to work the best for you, then it is time to try a few of the different options. Many sufferers find that it takes a combination of these supports to truly feel relief and have unencumbered mobility. A comprehensive approach is usually best to achieve pain-free days and full enjoyment of all activities.
Choosing the Right Custom Orthotics for Your Plantar Fasciitis Pain
When you need a pair of custom orthotics, Urthotics is the one choice for you. You will be able to get a truly customized pair of orthotics that are going to really feel good and fit your whole foot well. But that is just the start of the benefits of choosing to get your customer orthotics from Urthotics.
The benefits that you can enjoy include:
- Orthotics that are fabricated from the ground up for all of your needs, taking into consideration your current activity level.
- Professional grade: You will get to enjoy the same professional-grade process and great materials that are provided by experts in the industry of orthotics.
- A certified specialist who will oversee the entire process.
- Advanced technology to really fit your feet
- Lifetime warranty if something does not go right.
If you are going to rely on a good pair of customized orthotics, then you need to make sure you choose the right pair that is going to last a long time. At Urthotics, you are certain to get a pair of high-quality orthotics that will last for a lifetime.