Do you suffer from heel pain? If yes, then these are the most important words you will ever read. You see, millions of people across the world have plantar fasciitis.
This is a condition that affects your heel and causes it to hurt and feel sore all the time. The treatment of plantar fasciitis often involves losing weight and getting good shoes with proper arch support.
This is fine for most, but in many cases of problematic plantar fasciitis, shoes don’t work. Why? Because a pair of good shoes requires more than just arch support.
The answer: Zero Drop Shoes!
If you suffer from plantar fasciitis, you should use zero drop shoes. These are shoes that have no heel-to-ground drop at all. In other words, they have the same amount of heel height as toe height.
That is different from conventional shoes that come with a heel-to-toe drop, which puts more pressure on your heels than toes. Their extra height comes from a chunk of added material under your foot arch and a good pair of these will provide the support you need for your feet and legs without putting extra pressure on your heels.
The Best Things is To Consult A Podiatrists
Many people who have plantar fasciitis think that zero drop shoes are the best remedy they can get, but they aren’t. A good pair of zero drop shoes is the only thing you need, but it’s not enough to fully treat your condition.
For that you need a proper diagnosis, physical examination and prescription from a podiatrists. A podiatrist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating foot problems and injuries.
These shoes will relieve your pain and get you back on your feet, but if you don’t learn what is wrong with your feet, you’ll never be able to prevent the problem from coming back. A real doctor will tell you what is wrong with your feet, prescribe the necessary treatment to eliminate the problem and help you prevent it from returning in the future.
What to Look for in Zero Drop Shoes
So how will you know which zero drop shoes are good and which aren’t?
There are a few things to look out for in good zero drop shoes. First of all, they should help with plantar fasciitis and heel pain. That is the whole point of getting them, right?
Nevertheless, make sure they do this without feeling clunky – some zero drop shoes feel like big blocks of material under your feet, which isn’t comfortable at all. Here’s a list of the most important things to look for in zero drop shoes specifically:
The materials. Make sure your shoes are made from quality materials and they won’t break down a day after you buy them.
The midsole. The midsole is the softest part of your shoe and it’s very important for healthy feet – make sure it’s comfortable and well-made. Your toes should not feel cramped or pinched.
The fit. Make sure they fit well and don’t feel uncomfortable. A good pair of shoes will support your feet nicely, but won’t make you feel like you’re sporting a 40-pound pack on your feet.
The arch support. The arch support is what you want – it’s the solution to heel pain! Make sure there is enough arch support and you should be able to walk comfortably.
Is Zero Drop Good For High Arch?
There is this myth that zero drop shoes are not good for people with high arches, because they put too much pressure on the front of your foot and make your toes point backwards.
That’s not true, however. The only thing you need to make sure is that your shoes have enough arch support for the job. If your feet are young and healthy, then getting zero drop shoes will improve the health of your feet significantly.
Are Zero Drop shoes good for low arches?
Another myth is that low arches cannot use zero drop shoes. That’s not true either! If you have poor arches or flat feet, zero drop shoes are fantastic for making your feet healthier and stronger.
Getting rid of the big heel-to-toe drop in conventional shoes will help a lot – heel pain comes from high heels, but it also comes from a big difference between heel height and toe height.
Just remember to get enough arch support in your zero drop shoes to keep everything comfortable and healthy.
When Should You Get Zero Drop Shoes?
As mentioned above, zero drop shoes are a very good option for people who suffer from plantar fasciitis.
If you want to get rid of the constant heel pain you’re feeling, this is the best way to do it – just make sure you get the right pair. I recommend you start looking for zero drop shoes after trying and failing with other methods of treating your plantar fasciitis. Most people will have to do this and it’s fine – don’t feel bad that you can’t find relief.
Also take into consideration your type of lifestyle. If you’re an athlete or a person who enjoys high levels of physical activity on a daily basis, you’ll probably want to use zero drop shoes for hiking and running.
The point is simple – if your heels hurt all the time, get good zero drop shoes. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!