If you are looking for the best orthotic insoles you are probably suffering from heel pain, so here is your guide to plantar fasciitis inserts to provide you heel pain relief the natural way (without drugs!) You may have heard recently that President Trump had “heel spurs” when he was younger, and well heel spur is just another name for the medical term “plantar fasciitis“, or it is sometimes misspelled as planters fasciitis.
In this article we provide you some useful information about plantar fasciitis (keep scrolling down), and we also provide our recommendation of the best insoles for plantar fasciitis, as well as the current trending top 10 best shoe inserts for plantar fasciitis. Hope you enjoy this article and that it helps provide a solution for your heel pain relief.
Editor’s Pick: Heel Defender Orthotic Insoles
We began our search by trying to find the best shoe inserts for standing all day, since this is what so many people are looking for including ourselves. So if you looking for orthotic insoles to provide natural heel pain relief, you will be very pleased with these shoe inserts for plantar fasciitis by Heel Defender. Perhaps you experience heel pain running, or like me you just want the best shoe inserts for standing all day. This is a high quality product that is doctor-recommended, and Made in the USA!
Heel Pain Relief Orthotic Insoles by Heel Defender
These heel orthotics were designed by a team of Podiatry Specialists and Biomedical Engineers, and it use an innovative design and patented technology that has been thoroughly tested. The shoe insert is engineered to protect the bottom of the heel and cushion the impact force from running or walking.
Amazingly, as soon as you step into it you notice it rapidly off-loads the painful heel, providing immediate relief. A team of biomedical engineers designed it to offload the heel when standing and during activities. The colorful image above shows exactly how it reduces the pressure (red area) and turns green (less pressure).
Not only is it biomedically designed, it is made with a high quality, specialized material called Sorbothane® which absorbs up to 94.7% of impact shock. Heel Defender use an antibacterial, antifungal, and friction reducing top cover.
This product won’t cure you, but it assists in the management of a number of foot conditions including of course plantar fasciitis, or also called heel spurs. In consultation with your doctor of podiatry, this product can be used in conjunction with other standard treatments.
>> Read more about Heel Defender Inserts on Amazon, click here. <<
Top 10 Amazon Best Sellers – Orthotic Insoles
Of course everything is sold on Amazon these days, so we can look on Amazon to determine which are the top best selling orthotic insoles, based on popular demand (that is, sales). As the saying goes, consumers vote with their wallets. So if a product is in the top 10 best sellers list for shoe insoles and orthotics, then you can bet it is probably a good product for it to be selling so consistently well.
Without further delay, here are a couple of lists for your convenience, on the top 10 Amazon best sellers in the orthotics categories. (Note that the prices shown below are updated DAILY, from a live Amazon data feed. You’re welcome 🙂
Top 10 Best Shoe Inserts for Plantar Fasciitis
Here are to top 10 trending best sellers currently as of today, in the orthotic inserts category.
[amazon bestseller=”plantar fasciitis inserts”]
Top 10 Best Insoles for Plantar Fasciitis
Here are to top 10 trending best sellers currently as of today, in the orthotic insoles category.
[amazon bestseller=”orthotic insoles”]
What is Plantar Fasciitis (aka heel spur)
Plantar fasciitis is the term commonly used to refer to heel and arch pain traced to an inflammation on the bottom of the foot. More specifically, plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the connective tissue, called plantar fascia, that stretches from the base of the toes, across the arch of the foot, to the point at which it inserts into the heel bone. Overpronation is the most common cause of plantar fasciitis. As the foot rolls inward excessively when walking, it flattens the foot, lengthens the arch, and puts added tension on the plantar fascia. Over time, this causes inflammation.
Heel Spur Treatment
Also known as heel spur syndrome, the condition is often successfully treated with conservative measures, such as the use of anti-inflammatory medications, ice packs, stretching exercises, orthotic devices, and physical therapy. Note: Please consult your physician before taking any medications. In persistent cases, Extracorporeal Shock Wave Treatment (ESWT) may be used to treat the heel pain.
Orthotic insoles are designed to help with the discomfort and inflammation of Plantar Fasciitis because they absorb the harsh shock and impact from the ground. Furthermore, they keep the arch from collapsing as you walk, which protects the plantar fascia from micro tears.
Insoles also help with other foot conditions including heel spurs and bursitis, so they are all around good for your feet if you suffer from other conditions as well. They also work in a variety of shoes and are easily transferred from one pair to another.
A study published in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research found that people who used orthotic inserts noticed a reduction in plantar fascia stress by 25 to 34 percent.
Insoles are designed to provide your feet with support, relieve tension, and reduce overall pain from a variety of conditions, including Plantar Fasciitis.
What Do Orthotics Do?
The main purpose of orthotics is to absorb the impact that comes with walking every day. Our feet can take a harsh beating, especially if you pronate or walk with an unnatural gait on harsh surfaces. Orthotic insoles are designed to keep your feet in a neutral position to reduce the stress placed on your plantar fascia. When less stress is put on your plantar fascia, you will suffer fewer micro tears so your feet can heal faster and prevent Plantar Fasciitis in the future.
Insoles also provide arch support, which is important if you have Plantar Fasciitis. When you walk without enough support for your arches there is a lot of strain placed on the plantar fascia. Furthermore, if there is not enough arch support, the ligaments around your arch will not hold it in place. When this happens, your arch will collapse every time you take a step, which causes micro-tears in your plantar fascia. With orthotic insoles, your arch will be supported so the ligaments of the plantar fascia do not tear as easily.
Heel Inserts vs. Full Orthotics
Here’s the difference between them.
Heel Cups
Heel inserts, or heel cups, sit in the heel of your shoe and slightly elevate the back of your foot. This reduces tension on the plantar fascia so it moves and stretches more easily as you walk. Another benefit of heel inserts is they absorb the shock, and cushion your heel as your foot strikes the ground. This further diminishes the pain associated with Plantar Fasciitis because the harsh impact will not be directed to your heel. Instead, it will be spread out by the heel inserts so as to not put too much strain on the area where the plantar fascia meets your heel.
Heel cups are the most simple of orthotics and are simply placed under the heel area in your shoe. They are basic in design and easy to use.
Heel cups are small and fit snugly into the back of your shoe. They come in a variety of materials which include plastic, foam, leather, or silicone. It is a good idea to try a few out and find what fits your foot best so you can decide what you feel most comfortable in. If you are going to be using the heel inserts for activities such as running or hiking, it is a good idea to get one that is more flexible, so it moves with your feet. If you need more support, a rigid heel insert may be your best option.
Shoe Inserts
Half Length Inserts: these provide more support than the heel cups, extending down through the arch of your foot, but stopping short of your toes. This allows a bit more mobility for your toes to move and may feel a bit less constrictive. Half Length Inserts do offer some motion control, but not as much as the Full-Length orthotics.
Full-Length Inserts: Full orthotic insoles run the length of your shoes and offer more support than heel inserts and the half length inserts. While these also help absorb shock and provide cushioning like the Heel Cups, they also correct your gait as you walk. This helps to reduce strain on your plantar fascia and naturally improves the health of your feet. Furthermore, the additional arch support helps prop up your ligaments, so they better support your arch so it does not collapse as you walk. The full-length orthotics also give you more arch support that most heel inserts do not offer. The Tread Labs Sride Insoles we recommend are Full-Length.
Can You Wear Inserts with Regular Running Shoes?
Orthotic inserts can be worn with many different types of shoes, including running shoes. It is important to ensure you have enough room in the shoe for the insert, so your foot does not get cramped while you are running. Most running shoes will say if they come with removable insoles, which means your orthotic insoles will likely fit in them.
Another thing to consider when thinking about purchasing insoles for running shoes is if you overpronate while you are running. If this is the case, it may be a good idea to purchase a pair of insoles to correct the overpronation, which will decrease your pain, help you run further, and be more comfortable overall.
How to Choose Shoe Inserts for Plantar Fasciitis
When trying to choose the best shoe inserts for plantar fasciitis, consider these tips:
- Are They Worth the Money? — While Dr. Scholl’s is a household name, there are actually many companies that make shoe inserts, and many of them charge overinflated prices for low-quality shoe inserts. Don’t just base your choice of on price alone, because a 20 dollar shoe insert may do just as good a job as a 50 dollar product. Some high priced brands, like Heel Defender, actually are worth the money because these are designed by a Podiatrist and Made in USA of specialty materials.
- Buy A Reputable Brand — I’ve noticed a lot of no-name companies offering shoe inserts for sale online. However, many of these companies don’t have any sort of reputation. Chances are, their products are made from cheap material and won’t live up to the advertisements. I recommend you look at shoe inserts that have good reviews AND are manufactured by a reputable business.
- Comfort is Important — One thing that must be said: there is no point in wearing shoe inserts if they are not comfortable. Don’t just buy a pair of inserts and wear them if they are uncomfortable. Make sure they fit correctly (some inserts target specific weights — if you are a 200lbs man, you would get a different insert than a 100lbs woman, say)
