What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar Fasciitis is a condition caused due to inflammation of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that extends from your heels, through your arches, to the base of the toes. It acts as a support platform for your arches. Individuals suffering from plantar fasciitis often experience the most pain first thing in the morning. When resting, the fascia tightens and then gets stretched when you stand on it again. The pressure when stepping on the floor causes the fascia to stretch beyond its limit. The continuous pulling of the fascia can cause micro-tears where it attaches to the heel bone and allows bony growths called heel spurs to develop.
Overpronation can cause an inflammation in this area. When walking, the arch flattens and the ankle rolls inward. This also puts excess pressure on the muscles and ligaments of the foot and ankle and can cause a host of other foot problems as well.
Can Arch Supports Help?
The most effective solution for treatment of problems like plantar fasciitis is to treat the cause of the problem. In the case of overpronation, and for most cases of plantar fasciitis, improper biomechanics, or poor foot posture, is the problem. Arch supports are the best way to correct or accommodate the abnormal foot mechanics.
How Arch Supports for Plantar Fasciitis are Designed
Supports designed to improve the position of the plantar fascia include a longitudinal arch support to help decrease the tension that is placed on the plantar fascia by distributing weight more evenly throughout the foot. The heel is designed to help reduce the impact you feel with each heel strike as you walk. This can be done by the addition of a soft, shock-absorbing heel pad that is added to your arch supports. If custom-made or customized, your arch supports may also have rearfoot posting to limit your degree of overpronation.
They work to improve biomechanical deficiencies in your gait cycle. Improving this not only provides relief and comfort, but also decreases your chance of injury. Issues like plantar fasciitis can cause pain not only in your feet and heel, but incorrect mechanics can cause a lot of pressure on other areas of your body…including your knees, hips, or back. If you use arch supports to improve the mechanics you may be able to prevent the development of problems in other areas of your body.