Why Should You Use Shoe Inserts For Heel Pain?
Would you prefer to only treat the headache if you had a headache as a prominent symptom of brain cancer? You might be able to get rid of the headache, but the cancer would still be present. Would you take painkillers to alleviate the agony of a fractured bone instead of stabilizing and setting the broken bone? To put it another way, is treating the symptom of a problem rather than the underlying cause the correct way to handle the situation? As a physician, I deal with this on a daily basis. Do I treat the symptom alone, or do I go after the root of the problem? Do I just treat the pain when it comes to heel pain, or do I look at what’s causing it and manage it first, then treat any pain that remains?
The Different Types Of Heel Pain
Based on the causes, there are three basic types of heel discomfort.
1. Nerve pain is most commonly felt towards the bottom of the heel. It normally hurts when you first get up, then eases for a little after you’ve been on it, but it usually becomes worse after a while.
2. Bone spur pain can occur on the bottom and back of the heel, and it can occur at any time when standing or walking.
3. Back of heel pain is caused by connective tissue (fascia) pain, which primarily affects the bottom of the heel, though the achilles tendon on the back of the heel can also be affected. It can happen when you’re not on your feet at night, as well as when you’re on your feet during the day.
To learn more about heel spur pain, see my blog “Heel Spurs: Symptoms, Causes, and Therapy,” which provides a solid foundation for understanding heel pain and treatment.
Heel spurs on the back or posterior of the heel can be very painful, although spurs on the plantar or bottom of the heel are frequently asymptomatic. Connective tissue pain at the plantar fascia or the abductor hallucis muscle right above it is a common cause of heel pain on the bottom. A nerve entrapment at the medial or inside of the heel is another typical cause of plantar heel pain.
Apart from pain, what do ALL of these types of heel pain have in common?
All of them have a common source, which is usually a mechanical or structural fault in the lower extremities. There are several disorders that can cause heel pain, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Gout, and Diabetes, however the vast majority of cases are due to structural/mechanical (biomechanical) faults. These faults cause anomalous forces to act on the foot, causing damage and pain. These biomechanical defects over time induce irreversible alterations in the architecture of the feet, compounding the initial flaws and creating greater discomfort.
It’s beyond the scope of this blog to go through all of the different biomechanical difficulties that cause heel discomfort. Overpronation and hypermobility (too much motion) are common symptoms of biomechanical problems. Overpronation can harm the feet and produce a variety of ailments. Overpronation, for example, promotes overuse of the calf muscles, which produces achilles tendon twisting and can result in posterior heel spurs. As the foot descends the arch and elongates, overpronation can stretch the plantar fascia. Micro rips in the fascia, as well as inflammation and pain, can result from this stretching. Nerve entrapment can also occur as a result of aberrant foot motion induced by poor biomechanics, causing excruciating agony. Day after day, direct impact on the floor from under pronation from inflexible feet can create heel bone pain.
Diagnosis And Treatment For Heel Pain
As a result, when a patient comes to my office with heel pain, I don’t merely treat the symptoms. Some practitioners like to treat their patients according to a “recipe.” They may, for example, receive a diagnosis of “plantar fasciitis” and follow the same treatment strategy regardless of the underlying etiology. In any of these circumstances, cortisone injections, oral medicines, or simple exercises may be used. All of these things can help relieve discomfort, but the underlying cause is still there, and it will resurface at some point in the future, potentially making things worse due to the continued damage.
After I’ve made an initial diagnostic of the presenting condition, I look at the structure and biomechanics of the lower extremity, which I’ve done successfully for 32 years. This provides me with a secondary diagnosis: “what caused the primary problem?” I may address the underlying problem with that secondary diagnosis, and the symptoms will usually improve. If the pain is severe or takes a long time to go away, I can provide symptom relief at any time.
A patient with plantar fasciitis caused by overpronation is a good illustration of this type of patient. If left untreated, overpronation can lead to joint injury, arthritis, bone spurs, misshapen toes, and knee and back pain. By only treating the fasciitis pain, none of this is addressed, and the condition can progress insidiously. So, how are biomechanical and structural problems dealt with? That, after all, is the subject of this blog, shoe inserts.
Heel Inserts are a type of shoe insert that is used to alleviate heel pain.
Although surgery can fix some structural problems in the feet, surgery is not an option for the majority of biomechanic and structural issues. Patients often wonder where this biomechanical or structural issue stems from. The most common causes are congenital or genetic. In a nutshell, “you are born with it.”
Mechanical and structural difficulties necessitate mechanical treatment. It’s like wearing glasses for your eyes, I tell my patients. Glasses do not change the eyes; nonetheless, by wearing them, the eyes function normally and vision is restored to normal levels. Shoe inserts and real orthotics function in the same way that glasses do for the eyes. While using the suitable shoe insert for heel pain, you can minimize or eliminate the pain while also correcting the underlying mechanical difficulties. Because function has improved, pain has subsided.
A well-constructed insert is more than just a “arch support.” The finest heel pain shoe inserts can also help to stabilize the foot and enhance gait. All of this can help to lessen pronation and guide the foot into optimal alignment and function, as well as enhance gait.
• The heel cup helps to prevent overpronation by reducing pathological heel motion.
• A gel pad in the heel, such as the one found in the IDEASTEP Biosole gel orthotic that I frequently use, protects and cushions the sensitive heel bone. It features a trampoline effect, which distributes shock forces from the heel’s bottom.
• The arch and midfoot are supported by the solid plate, while the metatarsal heads and toes are cushioned by the extension beyond it.
IDEASTEP, an orthopedic footwear business dedicated to treating people with diverse foot diseases and difficulties, produced insoles with the features listed above. From the ground up, all of their insoles and shoes are biomechanically intended to support optimal foot and body alignment. Click here to see the range of insoles for heel discomfort.
If the underlying cause of heel discomfort is biomechanical/structural, I usually start with a non-custom insert unless the problem is severe enough or the structure is pathological enough that a real custom orthotic footbed is required. I can instantly test the non-custom insert on the floor, and if it fits well and lowers pronation, I can test it in the shoe and have the patient walk. This allows you to decide whether you want to start with this device or move on to another or a truly bespoke device. The IDEASTEP Biosole Gel Sport is the device I use most frequently as an initial treatment for heel discomfort caused by biomechanical/structural abnormalities. I’ve been using this device for over 25 years with great results in cases of heel pain and other sorts of discomfort. Pronation/motion control, arch support, and cushioning are all good.
After I deliver the non-custom orthotic insole, I usually provide medical treatment for heel discomfort. I might add the medication or injection at the same time if the pain is severe, but I like to wait at least 2 weeks to see how the patient reacts to only the insert. Oral medicine or cortisone injections alleviate symptoms but do little to address the underlying cause. I’m looking for long-term outcomes rather than a short fix. I’ve been practicing for 32 years and work in a tiny town where I can keep track of patients for years.
Heel Pain Shoes are footwear that are designed to alleviate heel pain.
Shoes for heel pain or any other type of pain are also part of the treatment. Footwear is an important component of the treatment. An orthotic or insole is only as effective as the shoe it is used in. I ask patients to bring in all of their shoes, or at least all of the different types, on their initial visit. I look for signs of wear, good fit, and whether the shoe is suitable for the patient’s foot, as well as the presence of an insert. Many people suffer from pain as a result of worn-out or inappropriate footwear.
The ideal shoes for heel discomfort should include the following characteristics:
1. A removable insert that may be removed and changed with a fresh insert or orthotic is required in proper shoes. Treatment will fail if there isn’t enough room within the shoe.
2. Extra-deep shoes, such as several of the IDEASTEP shoes, are very useful since they provide enough area for the insert and any necessary changes.
3. Another major issue I see in the office is width. Many patients wear shoes that are too small or pointed in the toe box, making it difficult to put inserts and causing pain to the feet. Tight, tight shoes can affect biomechanics, making heel pain treatment more challenging. Unfortunately, many footwear firms only create one width, but some specialized brands, such as IDEASTEP, provide expanded widths up to 6E. (extra extra wide).
4. Shoes must also be firm enough to work in tandem with the insert to control foot motion. Soft, poorly constructed shoes are simply insufficient to alter gait and biomechanics. The shoe is too soft if it bends readily just before of the heel.
5. A minimal heel to toe drop (height difference between the front and back of the shoe) is advised because it transfers weight from the heel to the front of the foot, alleviating heel pain.
6. Ergonomic sole design with mild rocker bottom drives the foot forward and eases foot motion, reducing heel pain.
To manage with severe over pronation and hypermobility, I wear IDEASTEP shoes with orthotics. It’s the most comfy pair of sneakers I’ve ever worn. They offer pain relief and comfort, but more importantly, they can fix the biomechanical abnormalities that cause heel discomfort. To see the IDEASTEP heel pain shoes for men and women, click here.
Finally, if you’re experiencing heel discomfort, talk to your doctor and ask WHY! Inquire about the root of the problem. Go somewhere else if your medical practitioner isn’t interested in finding out or explaining it to you. You deserve to have the entire picture diagnosed rather than just the symptoms removed. Your feet, as well as your knees and back, will appreciate it afterwards. Also, if an insert is offered, it must be comfy so that you may wear it all day. It only works when you’re wearing it, just like glasses. Be patient, as implants can take a long time to heal and alleviate pain. The pain alleviation provided is long-term, unlike temporary solutions.
