Many podiatrists prescribe orthotics for heel pain, and many patients are glad they do! If you have a problem with pronation (your foot rolls too far in or out when you walk and run), using these shoe inserts can help rebalance your foot into a more neutral position. This not only reduces stress on the plantar fascia band under your foot arch, but also can head off the heel pain that comes with plantar fasciitis, an inflammation that occurs from overuse where the ligament attaches to the heel bone.
Stabilizing the alignment in your feet can also help realign the rest of the skeleton above it, which may mean less pain in your ankles, knees, hips, and lower back as well. If you have foot pain, start first by making sure you have sturdy, supportive footwear. If that doesn’t help, you can certainly try shoe inserts you can purchase at a department store or pharmacy, so see if they help at all. If they do, consider having us craft a more permanent pair of custom orthotics that is designed for your specific feet to correct your particular condition. Saying goodbye to heel pain will definitely be worth it. Just give Yuko Miyazaki, DPM a call at our office in Berkeley, CA at (510) 647-3744 and we will be delighted to help you!