Heel pain has become a common problem nowadays, particularly with women. The most usual causes of heel pain are Achilles tendinitis (pain in the back of the heel) and plantar fasciitis (pain in the bottom of the heel). The other causes of heel pain are a bone tumor, heel spur, rheumatoid arthritis, stress fractures, tendon rupture and so on. Although, the good news is that your heel pain can rarely be a symptom of any serious condition, though it might disturb you with your daily activities to a point where it gets frustrating. However, this problem can be tackled with a good pair of shoes for heel pain.
Ideal shoes for heel pain will mitigate the pain and offer adequate support so that you can move around comfortably as well as quickly. But, there is no hard and fast rule about the shoes which would be a perfect match for you, mostly because every individual’s feet has a different shape and structure. At the same time, there might be different types of shoes for various kinds of foot problems. For example, a person suffering from Achilles tendinitis will need different shoes to manage heel pain, as compared to someone with plantar fasciitis.
Firstly, consult a podiatrist who can accurately diagnose your problem and then recommend the appropriate kind of treatment. Along with medications and therapy, they will also suggest you with the right types of footwear. With the help of teams of shoe designers and podiatrists, most of the leading brands have been trying to design shoes for heel pain. They are not only great for your heel pain but are stylish as well. Some of the well-known labels that you can consider buying from Alegria, Orthofeet, Vionic, Dr. Comfort, ASICS, Crocs, etc.
Although medical shoes for heel pain can help, it is not always possible to wear them for every occasion. Therefore when you are buying regular shoes, scrutinize the following features so that they don’t aggravate your heel pain.
- Only buy shoes designed with high-quality materials
Avoid buying shoes that are made from cheap materials as they will ultimately fail to offer you support for a long time. Moreover, if they are not appropriately designed, they will strain your feet by twisting your ankle and worsen the discomfort. Therefore, always buy shoes that are manufactured with high-quality materials which offer you the maximum comfort for an extended period. The ideal pick for your foot would be the one that would provide firm support to your heel with a minimal midsole torquing (where you won’t be able to twist or bend the midsole). It should also have more flex at the toe end portion. - Go for laces, not slip-on
If you are looking for running shoes, then get one with laces rather than a slip-on design. This is because laces properly fit around your feet as you can tighten its grip. Slip-on with time can get a bit loose, so your feet wouldn’t be held in a secured position. With a pair of slip-on, your foot tends to glide, and your gait might become clumsy, thereby intensifying your heel pain. So, always choose laced running shoes for heel pain. - Ditch the stilettos
You should generally avoid wearing pencil heels as they can put an immense amount of pressure on the balls of the heel which can tighten plantar fascia and calf muscles. This can be replaced with block heels, flats, boots or wedges that are equally stylish and comparatively supportive. - Avoid flats
You might think that if high heels are bad for your feet, then the right pair of shoes for heel pain must be the flats. But, this might not be entirely true for all cases, because flat shoes, at times might not adequately support the arch of your foot. Thus, an extra strain is put on your plantar fascia tissue. This will happen because your foot has to work hard to lift itself off the ground to maintain the normal and correct posture while you walk. An injured plantar fascia tissue can lead to a heel spur, which is a very painful and might need surgery to get rectified. To manage this problem, you can get special insoles that help support the feet.
When you set out to choose a pair of shoes for heel pain, do make sure you consider the motion control and stability of the shoes. Try them on once so that you understand how well they can support your heels.
