Shoes For plantar Fasciitis

Anyone who has suffered plantar fasciitis will know that it is not to be taken lightly, so the right footwear can be of paramount importance to making a full recovery.

Plantar fasciitis is a common condition that involves inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is a band of tissue along the bottom of the foot that connects the heel bone to the toes that supports the arch of the foot and absorbs shock when walking.

What are the symptoms of plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis generally causes a “stabbing pain” in the bottom of the foot near to the heel. While some people may experience only mild pain or dull throbbing, for some people it can be excruciating and debilitating.

Although the pain often is worst within the first steps of the day or after long periods of inactivity, such as sitting, but may settle during the day or with exercise, it can also be trigged by long periods of standing activity or time on your feet.

What causes Plantar Fasciitis?

Although there is no “cause” as such, there are many risk factors that can contribute to plantar fasciitis and it is not merely a consequence of too much standing or exercise! Around one in ten people are thought to experience plantar fasciitis at some point in their life.

Plantar fasciitis it is most common between 40 and 60 years old, is more common in women than men, is more likely in people with diabetes and people that are overweight. The risk can also increase for people with reduced ankle movement, flat feet or high arched feet and old or poor quality footwear can also increase the risk.

Ignoring plantar fasciitis can result in chronic heel pain that hinders your regular activities. Additionally, if you're consistently experiencing heel pain, you’re likely to change how you walk to try to avoid this pain, which can in turn lead to foot, knee, hip or back problems.

It is important then that, if you have or think you may have plantar fasciitis, you take steps to address it.

Luckily, plantar fasciitis is something that can be treated yourself, although if the pain persists after a couple of weeks you should see your GP to avoid worsening or further complications.

Some steps you can take to treat or ease plantar fasciitis yourself include resting, icing the painful area using an ice pack wrapped in a towel for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours, stretching and rolling the inflamed tissue and trying to lose weight, if you’re overweight.

The best shoes for plantar fasciitis

Of course, the right footwear is very important in avoiding or overcoming plantar fasciitis.

To avoid undue stress on the tissue it is important that your footwear offers good support and stability that has good cushioning underfoot, doesn’t have a high heel and, extremely importantly, that they fit well.

So the best shoes for plantar fasciitis:

• Offer the right support and stability
• Have soft materials for cushioning and flexibility
• Have plenty of room for toes to flex, enabling you to stretch the plantar fascia
• Are adjustable enough to fit well
• Have good arch support
• Are flat: no high heels

DB Wider Fit Shoes for plantar fasciitis

As specialists in footwear for wide, deep and problem feet our mission is to offer shoes which give the freedom to be able to walk in complete comfort and the joy of living your life to the full without thinking about your feet.

So naturally, our shoes are designed with foot conditions such as plantar fasciitis in mind and come with many of the features outlined above as standard.

For support and stability many our shoes come equipped with a built in heel cup for support and flared soles for stability. With wider feet comes a wider area of support needed, so our shoes are especially designed to accommodate with specialist lasts for wide, wider and extra wide feet.

For cushioning and flexibility many of our shoes come with a lightweight, flexible Air-bubble sole, offering extra cushioning as you walk and making it feel as though you’re walking on air!

For room to flex your toes many of our shoes are designed with round or square, deep toe boxes that offer plenty of room for toes to move or for swollen toes to be happy and comfy. We also offer a large range of footwear with toes boxes made from our special stretch material, which stretches offer extra room for toes.

For shoes that are adjustable to ensure good fit we offer a range of fastenings to suit all needs, be they laces for ultimate adjustability and a secure fit, straps for adjustability and security but more suited to people with reduced hand motility, as well as slip on styles.

For good arch support our footwear offers extra versatility: rather than offer shoes designed especially for fallen or high arches or other issues, we supply shoes that have specially designed removable insoles so that you can remove one or both insoles and insert your own specialist insole.

This allows you to cater for your issue with the insole designed for your need.

All of our dual width fitting styles (V, 2V or 6V) come with removable insoles along with many other styles allowing extra room for insoles.

"Went into your stockist in Oswestry yesterday. I had fantastic service and they were great. I am now walking on air so to speak. The shoes are very comfortable. Thank you so much! Happy feet."
Valerie

With these factors in mind, see our selection of the top 10 best shoes for plantar fasciitis:

Garforth is an incredibly comfy wide or extra-wide fitting trainer in suede and leather, with a stretch leather-look toe panel. With a flared heel for increased stability, flexible rubber sole and lace design for a securer fastening, Garforth is the perfect trainer.

Fiji is a modern and stylish shoe in a felt fabric with lace fastening, Air bubble sole for extra cushioning as you walk, round and deep seam-free toe box and soft padded collar for comfort.

Super popular lightweight active style Hawaii has adjustable touch fastening straps, flared heel for stability and grippy, flexible rubber sole.

Everyday shoe Jazz is stylish in leather look stretch material with contrasting panels and a supportive lace-up design, round stretch fabric toe box, additional 5mm foam sock included for extra comfort or to vary the depth and air bubble sole for extra cushioning as you walk.

Jazz is also made with no animal products, meaning it is vegan-friendly footwear!

Another vegan-friendly style with similar features is Page, with smart styling in leather look material with double touch strap which gives even more fit adjustment.

Rory is a new style based on our best ever selling shoe, oft described as "the comfiest shoe you will ever wear"!

Made from beautiful soft leather with adjustable touch fastening strap and lightweight, shock absorbent air-bubble sole for extra cushioning as you walk.

Bracken is a super cute lace-up style also built on our super cushioned lightweight air-bubble sole, with round toe shape in the same beautiful soft leather as Rory, with a little give for toes to move and feet to swell.

Soft leather or suede ankle boot Shade is built on our lightweight, shock-absorbing bumper sole with a lace-up design and round toe shape, whilst similar Dark also comes with knitted ankle collar for comfort and is also vegan friendly.

Super popular Callisto is a fabulous style in metallic printed leather that is cleverly designed with laces and inside zip so that once you've fitted with the laces you can just zip on and off for ease of access.

Browse all ladies wide-fitting shoes »

Of course men also suffer from plantar fasciitis too so, don’t worry, we have you covered too!

Our men’s range of wide and extra wide footwear include many of the same design features that make our ladies range suitable for such a variety of foot health conditions, including lightweight shock absorbing soles, heel cups and flared soles for security and stability and a choice of fastenings for adjustability and fit.

Classic casual lace-up style Congo, along with many of our men’s casual styles, features a super stable, air-bubble sole, round toe-box and soft padded ankle collar for improved comfort.

Washington is a modern leisure shoe in soft washed canvas with a flexible, rubber sole and lace-up design.

Konrad is a sporty men’s shoe with punched panels and piping detail and elastic fastening for a comfortable fit and easy access. It also features our special dual density sole: an air bubble mid-sole for cushioning with rubber outer-sole for improved grip.

Seb is our best-selling men’s wide-fitting trainer that’s sporty and supremely comfortable, in flexible, soft leather and nubuck. The lace-up style gives easy adjustment - perfect to ease the fit during the day if required.

Here’s what Mr P had to say about Seb:
"3rd pair of these shoes. Excellent fit and super comfy yet again."

Browse all wide-fitting shoes for men »

All styles listed include built in heel cup for security and are available in our wide 2V(EE-4E) and 6V(6E-8E) variable width fittings, with removable insoles for the insertion of specialist insoles and are Healthy Footwear Guide approved shoes.

More of what our customers say:

"I'm a new DB customer and I'm delighted with the three pairs of shoes I've bought. I'd reached the stage where walking was so difficult that I was in constant pain. Now, I'm walking comfortably, even when road surfaces are rough and so my fitness and physical stability are improving. The side zip in my boots means I can take them off easily and it's great to have the option of inserting insoles. I would recommend you to anyone who, like me, has problem feet. Thank you very much!"
Mrs G

"I highly recommend this company. They have saved me (Size 6 with very high instep and very wide feet EEEEE needing room for orthotic inserts) after years of painful feet, terrible posture and hideous shoes."
Penny

"What a treat. Wish I had found you years ago. Fashionable and comfortable, what a combination. I couldn't believe I could actually walk without pain. I have now ordered three more pairs, for different circumstances."
Mrs H

"I have had problems with my feet for years, very high insteps, broad feet and one leg slightly shorter than the other. All this has caused knee pain and I have been having inserts made for my shoes for several years. It was in fact the hospital podiatrist that gave me a catalogue for this company and I haven’t looked back. These shoes fit so well and allow for my inserts. They are strong, well-made and attractive. I have lost count of the shoes I have had from you winter and summer range and slippers. They are attractive shoes for all occasions and I love them. Highly recommend everyone to give them a try."
Janice

"My husband is very pleased as he doesn't have to listen to me gasping with pain every time my foot hits a slightly uneven surface or complaining of sore toes and heels. Thank you so much, it is not an overstatement to say your shoes have changed my life! "
Mrs B