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Waking up with plantar fasciitis pain is no walk in the park. But the best walking shoes for plantar fasciitis make things far more manageable — and may even help you recover from the frustrating injury.
Plantar fasciitis is caused by irritation of the ligament that runs from your heel to the ball of your foot. And if you’re one of the 2 million people who undergo plantar fasciitis treatment for this common foot injury every year, you may already know that although those first few steps of the day are painful, walking actually helps ease the pain from plantar fasciitis with each additional step.
But the shoes you wear matter. The best walking shoes for plantar fasciitis are supportive, comfortable, and cushioned. And no matter what caused your acute or nagging plantar fasciitis — standing for long periods, running, and even your foot shape can play a role — ensuring you stay mobile and not barefoot is crucial to your recovery, says Hilary Brenner, DPM, a New York-based podiatrist and foot surgeon. You want to protect the soles of your feet from the hard surfaces around your house and outside to allow the plantar fascia ligament to heal, she says.
To help speed up your recovery, we did the research and tapped Brenner and other foot health pros to share a comprehensive list of the best walking shoes for plantar fasciitis. These sneakers and slip ons will help you heal so you can get back to doing what you love sooner. Note: If you still love a certain pair of sneakers that didn’t make the list for the best walking shoes, you can try insoles for plantar fasciitis — our foot pros recommend those from Superfeet, Cadence, Currex, or Birkenstock. Just swap the insole in your current pair for one with more arch support and stability — two key features to look for in plantar fasciitis footwear — to feel the difference.
Ahead, the top walking shoes for plantar fasciitis, backed by podiatrists.
While choosing the right shoe for you will be individual to your feet and your needs, these universal elements are important to look for in the best walking shoes for plantar fasciitis.
A light walk can help reduce symptoms of mild cases of plantar fasciitis. However, if the pain is a 5 out of 10, it’s best to rest instead. Specifically, the RICE strategy, or rest, ice, compression, and elevation is helpful to reduce inflammation of the ligament and begin the healing process, says Brenner. Light stretching, such as manually bending the toes gently back to release tension in the tight plantar fascia ligament, and over-the-counter pain medication should help.
If you must walk, limit your time on your feet to less than 10 minutes and avoid concrete terrains (hence why you won’t find a winner for best shoes for walking on concrete with plantar fasciitis), and wear shoes with lots of cushion, she says. Discontinue the activity if you experience stabbing pain or your heel becomes red or swollen, says Brenner.
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To put together this list of the best walking shoes for plantar fasciitis, we consulted multiple experts in the field of podiatry and orthopedics — several of whom have experienced plantar fasciitis themselves — as well as looked at the key features they recommended by present in optimal footwear. Additionally, we consulted studies, surveys, and other published research regarding plantar fasciitis and the type of footwear that is best for those with it. Customer reviews and footwear market research helped to round out our selection for the top walking shoes for plantar fasciitis, so you can shop confidently.
Related:
Best Socks for Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar Fasciitis Stretches
Best Slippers for Plantar Fasciitis
Best Sandals for Plantar Fasciitis
Alyssa Sparacino is a content strategist, editor, and writer with a focus on fitness, health, and wellness with more than a decade of experience in digital media. She most recently held the role of editorial director at Shape Magazine. Her writing has been published in outlets including Shape, Health, What to Expect, Men’s Journal, Travel & Leisure, and more. Sparacino holds a personal training certification with the American Council on Exercise.
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.