How can these insoles help with heel pain and plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is the most common form of heel pain. It is so common that 1 in 10 people will suffer from plantar fasciitis at least once in their lifetime.
What is plantar fasciitis and what causes it to develop? Plantar fasciitis is the degeneration of the plantar fascia as a result of overuse and damage to the ligaments. The plantar fascia ligament is designed to help support the arch of your foot and performs a wide variety of important functions needed to help you stand and walk. For instance the plantar fascia enables your foot to pronate as you walk. The plantar fascia also helps to absorb shock, preventing shock from damaging the metatarsal bones found in your foot. If you suffer from plantar fasciitis the plantar fascia will no longer be able to function properly affecting the way that you walk and making you even more susceptible to further foot damage and injury.

Plantar fasciitis is usually characterised by a sharp tight pain on the arch of the foot and on the heel. If you have plantar fasciitis the pain will usually be worse first thing in the morning as you take the your first steps of the day or after periods of inactivity. This is because during rest the plantar fascia shortens making it more susceptible to over stretching and straining when you bear weight on the affected foot. Heel pain associated with Plantar fasciitis will usually subside with activity. The plantar fascia can take a long time to regenerate, this means that it can take several months for your foot to fully recovered. With a damaged plantar fascia there is also an increased risk of causing further damage if the underlining causes of your plantar fasciitis are not adequately dealt with.

There are many different causes of plantar fasciitis the most common cause of plantar fasciitis is due to a biomechanical imbalance causing excessive pressure and strain on your arch. Over pronation and supination are the most common form of biomechanical imbalance. Pronation is a natural part of the gait cycle which helps to shift weight from the heel to your toes in order to propel you forward as you walk. Pronation also helps your feet to adapt to the changing contours of the ground helping you to avoid spraining your ankle when you walk or run. If you have flat feet or high arches you r at great risk of developing over pronation (whereby your foot rolls inwards excessively) or supination (whereby your foot rolls outwards an excessive amount). This can place extra strain and pressure on the arch of your foot and over time can cause damage to the plantar fascia ligament causing it to become damaged and inflamed.

If you wear a pair of orthotic insoles you can help to stop strain and excessive pressure on the arches of your feet. Orthotic insoles use orthotic compression to help reposition your feet and control the motion and function of your feet during the gait cycle. This helps to prevent biomechanical imbalances from occurring. If you already have plantar fasciitis wearing orthotic insoles will help to prevent further damage and strain on your feet. These insoles are equipped with shock absorption to help prevent shock from damaging your feet. With rigid arch support these insoles will also help to support your arches and stop over stretching and strain damaging your arch further.

Still unconvinced about how insoles can help treat your plantar fasciitis? You can find out more about plantar fasciitis and how wearing insoles can help by reading this handy guide here.