When you have plantar fasciitis, it’s a clear sign to a podiatrist that your foot is not faring well when you walk, run, jump or play. It’s a sign that the fascia of the foot is really suffering. You know you need the best inserts for plantar fasciitis to reduce your foot pain and fatigue.
The fascia is a broad band of connective tissue that extends from the heel to the toes. This fascia essentially holds the foot together in one shape. If you didn’t have fascia in your foot, your foot would collapse.
And essentially, that’s what happens when you have plantar fasciitis – your foot collapses; the bones spread out and the muscles, tendons, and ligaments are overworked and strained each time you take a step.
It may seem like there’s nothing you can do about this condition but there are two important things you can do to remedy the situation. The first is to make sure your diet is supplying plenty of minerals. It’s the minerals in the diet that helps maintain the structure and integrity of the connective tissue including the fascia in the body. The key minerals are calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and silica.
The second thing you can do is to support your foot structurally with the best inserts for plantar fasciitis. These should support your foot in every way. Do consider what your particular foot needs in the way of support – if you need more than an arch support, heel cup and metatarsal support, make sure it’s in the one you choose.
Powerstep insoles are made to be some of the best inserts for plantar fasciitis. Here are two of them you might consider:
- Powerstep ComfortLast Cushioning Insoles – These may be used in your jogging or walking activities as well as in your boots, dress shoes and casual shoes. They have in them the VCT Variable Cushioning Technology, which allows your feet to feet supported but also cushioned by a high performance foam.
At the same time, there’s an arch support along with heel cradle. The double layer of cushioning allows the top layer to mold to your foot while the bottom layer keeps its shape. This is important because if your foot has already lost its shape, you wouldn’t necessarily want the insole to totally conform to the shape of your foot. Instead, you still want the shape of the insole to act as a crutch for your foot. Do consider these as your best inserts for plantar fasciitis; they are recommended by podiatrists for exactly that purpose.
- Powerstep Pinnacle Maxx Orthotic – With a name such as Powerstep Pinnacle Maxx, you can imagine what you are getting into – extreme support, highest quality, and optimum performance. These are amongst the best inserts for plantar fasciitis because they’re a deluxe version of the Powerstep Pinnacle, already designed for those with plantar fasciiits.
The extra advantage of these inserts is the 2 degree angled varus wedge and they are firmer so they can withstand greater pressure from a heavier weight put on them. If your weight has topped 200 pounds, these will be your best inserts for plantar fasciitis.
By the way, the 2 degree angle wedge is what keeps your foot lined up properly. When your foot structure collapses when you take a step, the bones next to your ankle flatten out and ‘spill’ medially. This allows more of the foot to contact the ground, which in turn overstresses the muscles, tendons, and ligaments, causing pain. The wedge prevents some of the spillover. Do consider this one as your best inserts for plantar fasciitis.
Check out these – what do you think – will either one be the best inserts for plantar fasciitis?