The 16 Best Walking Shoes For Plantar Fasciitis Of 2024

Sneakers For Plantar Fasciitis:

Plantar fasciitis happens when a strain to the plantar fascia, the thin ligament that connects the heel bones to the toes, causes inflammation. It can occur as a result of running on hard surfaces, wearing shoes with insufficient cushioning or support, or doing too much or overenergetic exercise. The snug fit (see note around sizing below) held every part of our feet firmly in place. Although the additional cushioning definitely reduced space for our toes, the trade-off is extra stability, which will appeal to anyone carrying knee or ankle injuries. The shoes come in medium, wide, and extra-wide sizings, so we’d recommend trying on a few variations before settling on the right fit. A breath of fresh air on our feet, it offers consistent and subtle support through its balanced cushion and vast platform.

The arch cushioning had just the right amount of pressure, and walking in the shoes felt like a mini massage with each step. There’s ample room to breathe look at more info and move your toes, but they’re also supportive and stable. Asics Gel-Venture 9 running shoes are form-fitting, comfortable, and supportive.

‘Patients often think that cushion or soft footwear will help their pain but it doesn’t work without all of the above criteria as well,’ she shares. Equally important is cushioning, especially in the forefoot section of the shoe. Go for a shoe that feels as if it were cradling your foot and cushioning that will mold to your unique foot shape. Dr. Priya Parthasarathy, a podiatrist in Silver Spring, Md., shares that plantar fasciitis can create pain that hinders your ability to exercise, stand, and walk.

This ligament stretches out when you stand, which can cause micro-tears that contribute to weakness, swelling, and irritation of the plantar fascia. The best running shoes for plantar fasciitis have a wide toe box, are highly cushioned, and have a rigid midsole, good arch support, and a large heel drop. One of the most common causes of heel and arch pain that runners deal with is plantar fasciitis. While plantar fasciitis stretches can help manage the pain, you can often prevent it from getting worse by choosing the right shoes’running sneakers with plenty of cushioning and support. To find the best men’s running shoes for plantar fasciitis, we first spoke with podiatrists and other experts for their advice on which key features each pair should have. While there aren’t running shoes made specifically for plantar fasciitis, there are some smart features to look for when shoe shopping.

The super supportive insoles feature a soft EVA foam layer and a deep heel cup, which helps align your body and give your feet proper positioning. It also provides support and cushioning, transferring pressure away from high-impact areas, such as source your heels. They’re sized in regular shoe sizes, so you can order the size you normally wear. In our test runs, Hoka Gaviota 5 delivered a comfortable in-shoe experience and consistent support suited for runners with instability and arch issues.

They never cause pressure points or hot spots and feel secure around the heel and snug around the center of the foot. It’s worth noting that these shoes sometimes feel too tight when feet are in a flexed position. They run true to size, relieve plantar fasciitis pain, and remain supportive and shock-absorbing after many weeks of regular wear. The mesh upper is breathable, and the rubber outsole is durable, no matter where you like to run.

Michele Stanten is a walking coach, certified group fitness instructor, and running coach. Gel-Venture 7 shoes cost $70, and they are available for men and women in a range of widths and colors. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication. Here are a few things to remember to avoid or address an early stage of plantar fasciitis. For more guidance on custom insoles and orthotics, see our ultimate guide.

They feel stable and secure on all types of terrain and have good shock absorption that minimizes stress on our feet. A super tapered toe box can cause inflammation in your arches by disrupting the foot’s natural alignment, meaning the narrow fit of many running shoes could actually be part of your problem. Luckily, the wide toe box on Altra’s running shoes allows your toes to spread out evenly, while a 0 mm heel-to-toe drop encourages low-impact landings. The flatter shape paired with the zero drop (your heel sits at the same height as your toes) allowed our feet to sit flat, giving these shoes a very natural feel. ‘If there is no arch support in the shoe, the plantar fascia pulls causing stressful irritation and pain,’ finds Dr. Lady Paula DeJesus, D.P.M., a triple board-certified podiatric surgeon in Greenwich, CT. Outfitted with the cushion system for comfort and support, Orthofeet’s Stretch Knit sneaker is designed for plantar fasciitis.

This condition affects patients of all ages and activity levels, with an estimated 1 million physician visits in the United States per year, Dr. Spector says. Try to roll your foot over a frozen water bottle two to three times a day, including for 15 minutes before bed.’ If multiple icing sessions isn’t doable, she says, stick to one session at night. We tested all eight of our expert picks and scored them on comfort, support, traction and more. While these picks didn’t make our initial cut for testing, they all come highly recommended by readers and reviewers, and might be right for your needs. You’ll want to avoid the more fashion-oriented Croc models, which may lack the cushioning and support of the classic model. You may want to increase the arch support by inserting an OTC orthotic such as the ProTech 3/4 Orthotic.

Its sizable heel-to-toe drop helps shift your weight away from your heel, which should help relieve some pressure and pain, he explains. Dr. Bhular recommends the cushioned Pinnacle insole from Powerstep, in no small part for its supportive heel, which is made to cradle the back of your foot so it stays in place. Its arch is sturdy yet flexible, so it’ll pair well with both your favorite workout sneakers and work shoes. They also provide a natural bounce that does a fantastic job of absorbing the shock of our movements, even when jogging on pavement. And while these shoes offer plenty of support on their own, we found that there was still room for orthotic inserts. Overall, these truly are adaptable shoes that help alleviate plantar fasciitis pain and promote healing.

When testing this pair, they fit true to size with plenty of room in the toe box and a secure fit around the heel, so they never gave us blisters or hot spots. With extra cushioning in the heel area, a snug fit through the ankle and a removable EVA foam footbed, the Merrell Bravada is an excellent choice for a hiking shoe. These shoes also feature a breathable mesh lining and a durable rubber outsole with exceptional grippy-ness no matter what the terrain, another bonus feature for hikers. The molded nylon arch shank coupled with the EVA foam midsole provides the support and cushioning that plantar fasciitis sufferers need. With their supportive cushioning, a pair of Dansko Pace walking shoes provides both arch support and solid security for people with plantar fasciitis.

Dr. DeJesus emphasizes, “A rocker sole shoe, with a thicker-than-normal sole and a rounded heel, is beneficial and supportive.” Cole Haan’s popular OriginalGrand is a sophisticated, sleek Oxford on the outside. But hidden under the leather upper is a heavily padded, foam-y midsole that provides the support of a walking shoe. There’s also rubber in the heel and forefoot, to keep you from sliding around, and the overall design is incredibly lightweight and comfortable, whether you’re in the office or not. They’re also quite durable, with water-resistant synthetic straps, quick-drying jersey knit lining and a soft nylon toe post. Right out of the box, WalkHero Hit Road Arch Support non-slip walking shoes fit like a glove.

That said, sometimes you may need additional treatment to promote healing. For instance, some people need orthopedic inserts, physical therapy, and cortisone injections to get relief, Dr. Pinker adds. Plantar fasciitis is an overuse injury, and one of the most common causes of heel pain, Dr. Speilfogel says. This occurs when the plantar fascia’which is a thick band of tissue attached to the heel bone that runs along the bottom of the foot to the base of the toes’becomes strained and inflamed. The sole of these sandals is pretty inflexible, and the platform style makes them stable to walk around in.

After assessing each testing attribute, we then rated each shoe and used these ratings to guide our recommendations. We also were impressed by the fact that the arch support is solid and firm and doesn’t flatten out with wear. What’s more, the sides of the tongue are attached with wide, elastic material this content to the sides of the shoe allowing the shoe to provide an extra snug and supportive fit. Having a solid set of sneakers is key to be able to enjoy everyday life with plantar fasciitis. From the moment we put the AVEO MXV Shift Metatarsal sneakers on to test them, we fell in love with them.