What are the Best Shoes for Plantar Fasciopathy?
Plantar Fasciopathy is a condition that presents with pain under or around the heel and is one of the most common causes of foot pain. It has been suggested that one in ten people will experience Plantar Fasciopathy in their lifetime. If you are wanting further information about Plantar Fasciopathy, please read one of our previous blogs Heel Pain? It might be Plantar Fasciopathy. Part one, as it’ll provide a great overview.
When managing Plantar Fasciopathy there are two common load patterns that we dive into to reduce the symptoms, compression and tensile. A common strategy that is used to manage these types of loads are shoes. In this blog, I will recommend three different shoes we typically prescribe for our clients and how they help relieve Plantar Fascia pain.
Brooks Ghost Max 3: Neutral
Stack / Drop: 38.5mm in heel, 31mm in forefoot = 7.5mm drop
Weight: 318g
Brooks Ghost Max 3: Neutral
The Brooks Ghost Max 3 has been a great all-round, durable shoe for Plantar Fascioapathy. It’s high stack height delivers a nice cushioned feel allowing the heel to absorb that compressive loading the fascia takes.
It has a 7.5mm heel drop allowing a nice de-load through the plantar-flexor muscles which can assist with tensile loads. The midsole offers great width which helps with stability through mid stance but also the amount of room accommodates an orthotic device perfectly.
The only thing that lets this shoe down is the bulk and weight.
2. Hoka Bondi 9: Neutral
Stack / Drop: 40mm in heel, 35mm in forefoot = 5mm drop
Weight: 263g
Hoka Bondi 9: Neutral
The Hoka Bondi 9 has been my go to for plantar heel pain in walkers. The feeling of shock absorption and energy return is the greatest for low level activity and perfect for managing those compressive loads.
The mid foot rocker sole design assists with a smooth heel to toe transition which can reduce the tensile loads the fascia as the foot rocks forwards. The lower weight also creates a feeling of a less bulky frame.
Negative is that the heel drop is only 5mm which won’t deload the plantar flexor muscle group as well as the Brooks Ghost Max 3 and Asics Nimbus.
3. Asics Nimbus 27: Neutral
Stack / Drop: 43.5mm in heel, 35.5mm in forefoot = 8mm drop
Weight: 305g
Asics Nimbus 27: Neutral
The Asics Nimbus is an incredibly high cushioned shoe having a stack height of 43.5mm in the heel. Ground reaction forces will be well redistributed purely because of how high the heel sits off the ground and the level of cushion that the PureGel technology offers. If the plantar fascia requires a reduction to compressive load, this is your shoe.
A negative with the Asics Nimbus 27 is that being 43.5mm raised from the ground and having high levels cushion can create instability. When looking at tensile forces, we want more stability so that the foot isn’t over straining.
If you require further assessment and assistance with Plantar Faciopathy management, please feel free to reach out!
Written by Cooper Garoni