Does Neat Feat Orthotics Maximum Foot Support help with Plantar Fasciitis pain?
Just need something that is effective which will help me in this holiday season before going to see the specialist for the real treatment or potential surgery if needed.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
I had a look at this thread here but I thought I revive it once more as it was over 8 months ago. many thanks!
I am considering this option too and currently looking at Vibram 5 fingers; any particular type that helped you with?
hmm dont think so, just pick one that are not for running/trail (unless you keen on running on it).
remember to get used to it, walk for short distance for few days, then increase distance/time slowly.
Toe socks or no?
Did you get chafing on the Achilles in the beginning?
Do this. Cheap and works awesome.
Wear two days taped one day off. Get good quality tape and not the cheapest you can find. Helped with me when I had heel pain to the point of limping. Don’t wear flat shoes. At all. You want to support your arches. Based purely on my experience and your mileage may vary.
Don’t wear flat shoes at all.
Can you suggest what type of shoe I should be getting exactly? as in what type?
Will definitely watch later; thanks!
and see one comment on that video:
Golden rule never do the surgery or the steroid injection, there is no way back from there.
ymmv
My ultrasound result suggested that plantar fascia is thickened measuring 4 mm at its insert and there is some associated increased vascularity on Doppler at the fascia insert; it was suggested in the result that it is amenable to ultrasound guided steroid injection. It clicks to me right away that you @ChiMot advised about the Golden rule to never do surgery or steroid injection.
I wear Ascent Groove thongs at home, and oh my God are they awesome.
Never walk barefoot, especially on a hard surface.
I also wear Ascent Sustain shoes for everyday use, but I have custom insoles in them
hmm thanks for the idea Ascent Groove.
going to check aliexpress for the cheaper alternative :)
@CyberMurning: When you do, let me know; in all honesty, I don't mind paying $70 for a thong however this sort of thing may work for some people, but waste of money for some, so really hit and miss.
@tempura: I don’t work in an office so I just wear running shoes everywhere. Something that is soft with a lot of support for the arch. Everyone is different though and it’s trial and error until you find what works for you.
Tape it and see how you go first as that might be enough.
@Third_Gear: my theory is the exact opposite. wear minimalist shoes so you train your feet muscle. feet is part of body that contains the most muscles. need to train them to get stronger not pamper them with soft thick insoles.
@CyberMurning: Right, so with this Vibram, it will make it more painful as we train our muscle? so it's like walking bare feet.
@CyberMurning: Agree. Soft cushioning under your heels just encourages you to land on them more. Learn to walk properly. Go barefoot as much as possible
@CyberMurning: Depends on the individuals foot. If you have flat feet you need support. If the answer to most broad spectrum foot problems was simply walk in bare feet the whole podiatrist industry need not exist.
I take it you sleep on the floor? The whole body contains muscles and you should make them stronger and not pamper them with soft things like a mattress.
@Third_Gear: ok i didnt say you are wrong they are just my opinion and personal exp. i have super flat feet.
but that 5 fingers worked for me (and some on internet, as i done my research before).
i was confused as well at the beginning (and until now, still).
hearing all the time that flat feet => need support which is make sense.
@Third_Gear: Where can I get those tape from? I tried Chemist Warehouse and they don't have it. I must have been looking in the wrong section.
@tempura: Of course not everything works for everyone. My problem is that when I walk I roll in and flatten my arches out a lot. These thongs have high arches and keep them up.
I went and saw a Podiatrist when I would get out of bed in the morning, and I couldn't walk to the toilet without difficulty. I would have to hold onto the walls for support, and limp heavily from both feet. Probably should have gone before that point.
@tempura: I was 30yo too. But I'm also overweight.
Ironically, with the thongs and insoles I haven't had the pain in a while, signed up with a gym to deal with my weight, after the 2nd day on the treadmill, pain is back. Going to have to go with bikes or rowing machines instead.
@AdosHouse: same here. one day out of the blue woke up from bed, stepped my feet out to the carpet and almost fell down due to the pain like thousand needles
Do you walk/jog a lot? I guess you cant help that..
Massage with a tennis ball or your thumbs everyday, but don't expect quick fix. Mine too 18 months to disappear without medical help.
I do walk a lot and I have done massage with a tennis ball too and yes it does make it comfortable after the massage.
I must admit, as inconvenient as it is, it does feel pleasurable to stretch or massage,just like muscle soreness from the gym the next day.
18 months hey … did you also use the iced bottle massage roll?
@tempura: I tried that, but didn't do it for me. I think it just felt good for cooling down in summer :)
For me biggest help is massage, good sports shoes (I found insoles useless, even though they feel cushy), and losing weight, as I must have been yo-yo dieting since the pain disappearing was relative to this too.
I’ve been struggling with the same issue for about six or seven months now. Walking good distances and running really aggravates it, so I minimise both.
I purchased a brace to wear at night, similar to the one below, and it definitely helps. It keeps the ligament stretched and prevents that crippling pain that can occur when you first get out of bed. I think I got mine from aliexpress for about $10.
https://www.superpharmacy.com.au/products/futuro-night-plant…
Also, I bought a few gel supports that make things a bit easier when it is hurting. Again, aliexpress.
Finally, the doctor gave me some anti inflammatory pills, meloxicam, and they have really, really helped matters. I’d suggest getting a prescription.
No, they don't help :(
OP - be careful regarding recommendations of barefoot “shoes” like those from Vibram, who had a lawsuit exceeding $4M AUD regarding the claims of benefits able to be yielded from their product. A review of the literature on barefoot running shows that there is insufficient evidence to back any major claims (not that there is evidence to the contrary, though, it should be noted).
https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/48/5/349.full
As for treatment, keep in mind that the plantar fascia is an incredibly strong structure, such that it requires >1000 pounds per square inch (psi) of pressure to deform it by 1%. With that noted, any kind of ball rolling or massage is unlikely to have any effect on the structural issues related to pain. Sure, it’ll help desensitise the area and act as a form of pain relief, but that’s treating the symptom of the problem, as opposed to the problem itself.
Orthotics can help if they provide arch support, as it reduces some of the load into your PF but doesn’t fix the faulty mechanics which has lead to the pain in the first place, so it’s similar to massage in that respect, albeit prevents pain rather than treating it once it has arisen, so has that benefit.
Treatment should focus on fixing the loading of your PF, so working on increasing calf length through stretching, and soft tissue release of your calf to relieve tension which may be directly causing PF issues by applying the same tension down-chain (or by altering biomechanics). Improper loading can also come about due to weakness in your calves, and a 2014 study found that a particular exercise whereby you’re doing calf raises off a step (so you can dip below 90 degrees at your ankle, into dorsiflexion) with a slightly rolled/folded towel under the ball of your foot is most beneficial. Dosages were set at 3x12 for 2 weeks, 4x10 for 4 weeks, followed by 5x8 ongoing and saw good results relative to just stretching alone. This kind of treatment would be better suited under the guidance of a physio/podiatrist to ensure you’re performing them properly and to address any issues as they arise, though.
OP - be careful regarding recommendations of barefoot “shoes” like those from Vibram, who had a lawsuit exceeding $4M AUD regarding the claims of benefits able to be yielded from their product. A review of the literature on barefoot running shows that there is insufficient evidence to back any major claims (not that there is evidence to the contrary, though, it should be noted).
Thank you!
Stretch your feet and calves, tape is okay as well if you apply it properly.
Self massage with a golf ball (tennis ball is too soft) and an iced water bottle to reduce inflammation, I’ve also used ice baths in the past- putting ice from the freezer and cold water into a plastic container and doing one foot at a time, gave huge relief!
Have you seen a podiatrist? I wouldn’t waste my money on orthotics unless they’re custom. I’ve got two pairs- a half insert with the arch really built up for running/sport and a smaller slim pair that will go into almost all casual shoes. I’ve found my pain has reduced so much since investing in shoes for work I can fit my orthotics into, Frankie4 (for women) have been a lifesaver.
Avoid “flat” shoes, you need something with a bit of a slope- I’m in pain for days after wearing a pair of haviana thongs now :(
I also have a remedial massage from a myotherapist every 3-4 weeks, which makes a massive difference. Sometimes dry needling and cupping too.
Good luck! It’s a long journey but there’s lots you can do to improve your feet without having to resort to surgery or injections.
Stretch your feet and calves, tape is okay as well if you apply it properly.
I was thinking about buying this but I can't keep relying on someone else to tape this for me; do you reckon this is self doable?
There’s plenty of tutorials online for how to do it with rock tape, my friend who is a physio has done it for me and it doesn’t seem too hard
'+ this. Works well for me.
I had this last year after wearing flat shoes. The pain was gone after almost 1 year. I did these:
-wearing socks all day, even when i sleep
-do stretching exercises often
-always drinks warm water
-buy shoes insole especially for heel pain or plantar fasciitis,
-i wear insoles at home to prevent more pain
-avoid having cramp at night by keeping your foot warm
-wear wide front shoes
Hope this helps
Can I quickly ask which brand for your wide front shoes did you go for?
I bought new balance and choose the wide type
Are you overpronated? I am severely overpronated and after being in pain for months, I did a search and after consulting with my podiatrist I bought the Brooks Beast which offers the maximum support for severely overpronated people. They have made a huge difference with my foot pain. They are a bit pricey but will last for few years at least. Or you could try the ascent vision shoes which too has a similar construction. I wear them for work and has been helping with the pain
There are heaps of solutions/help ideas here, but I've found one that worked quite quickly for me, which I can't find easily on the web.
1. Bare-footed or in light shoes, rest the foot up to the ball on a low step (about 8-10 cms depending on your foot size) facing the step, with your heel on the ground.
2. Hold onto something like a door frame and raise your heel, letting your foot take all the weight.
3. do this about 10 times to see if it helps. If it feels a bit better (or not worse!) do this as often as you like/can for however long it takes to provide relief. Unless you have a more serious problem (torn tendons etc.) this should help a lot.
I had severe Plantar Fasciitis for 6 years. Here is my experience;
At it's worst I could not walk 50 metres in the mornings. My pain was excruciating. I saw my GP and a recommended podiatrist without much success over 12 months. I saw a foot specialist for 2 years who put me on expensive orthotics and a 'moon" boot that stretched the calf muscle at night. They all helped but were well short of a cure.
I finally fixed my problem when I realised they were treating the symptoms and not the cause. In my case it was super tight calf muscles pulling on my plantar muscle.
The following all contributed to fixing my problem;
- The tight calf (discovered during a massage) was contributed to by dehydration, so drink at least 2 litres of water ( not counting tea, coffee, beer etc) each day.
- Daily magnesium supplements also made a significant difference.
- Two treatments of dry needling released the inflammation.
- Footwear with proper arch support and cushioning eliminated the recurrence.
2 years now and pain free.
PS I am not a fan of orthotics unless as a last resort, because they affect your gait which can result in new different problems. The calf stretching moon boot is very uncomfortable and a PIA but it was useful in the early stages.
I wish you good luck.
Long story short = not a one thing suits all type scenario
Do you have imaging to support Diagnosis, No = rule out differentials
If it is PF = change any predisposing factors eg reduced dorsiflexion, excess weight, carrying load all day or standing all day.
Remember that no tissue in the body exists in isolation and that that specific tissue didnt just decide to be inflamed one day, it has been a prolonged process that has many contributing factors.
Shockwave therapy got rid of my PF , also putting my entire body weight on a golf ball and rolling it over the plantar region helped tremendously.
Cause of my PF was some cheap $70 steel cap boots.
I had one early 2017. Mine was caused by tight calves.
treatment that worked for me:
Ball of foot on a step - pivot the heel downwards as far as possible and then come back to horizontal. 3x10 reps 2-4 times a day.
podiatrist recommend a tennis ball inder the tendon in the arch of the foot to stretch it. I got a 30mm diameter cylinder (it was a concrete filler sample from work) and rolled it quite forcefully under the arch from the ball of foot to the heel. I did this most of the day at work and at home watching TV.
additional help:
Any type of calf stretching exercises.
Any type of hamstring stretching
I had the symptoms (could barely walk) for 4 weeks before seeing podiatrist and it was 50% better in a week and gone in a month.
my suggestion still the same, try barefoot shoes for example vibram 5 fingers. worked for me.