Heel spur insoles

Heel spurs (common name) or plantar fasciitis manifests itself as severe pain in the heel. This usually happens to people over 40, mainly women. The main causes of the disease are increased load on the foot due to excess weight, training, heavy physical labor. Also, heel spurs are promoted by heel injuries, spinal pathologies, flat feet, arthritis, atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities, gout. In fact, this is a process growing on the heel bone. When walking, it presses on the soft tissues and causes severe pain. In addition to various physiological methods of treating spurs: massage, mud and water therapy, laser and ultrasound therapy, physiotherapy, and sometimes surgery, it is important to ensure unloading of the foot. This is achieved by using special insoles and heel pads.

What kind of heel pads can be worn for heel spurs?

Insoles are special inserts in shoes that are worn with them constantly and are designed to support the foot when walking, acting as a kind of shock absorber. What insoles under the heel can be worn with a heel spur? For this, special products are made from various materials: natural and artificial leather, silicone, felt, gel. Another type of design - heel pads, placed under the heel. They can be leather, silicone, cork, medifoam - synthetic highly elastic foam.

How to choose insoles for heel spurs?

When choosing insoles for heel spurs, you need to be guided by the fact that they fit in size, correspond to the structure of the foot, and the weight of the person. They can be purchased at pharmacies, shoe stores, through online trading, but it is best to make a custom order in an orthopedic workshop. In this case, the insole will completely repeat the shape of the foot, materials will be used that do not cause discomfort and can withstand the weight of a person, dampening the impact force during movement. The need for heel pads for heel spurs most often arises in the case of inflammation of the thick ligament connecting the calcaneus to the toes (plantar or plantar aponeurosis) and various degrees of flat feet.

Orthopedic insoles

Insoles for heel spurs are special orthopedic devices designed to eliminate excess pressure on the supporting part of the lower limbs. The materials they are made of were mentioned above, but silicone ones are very convenient and practical, as they are the softest and most flexible. Sometimes the disease requires a denser and more elastic material, and then leather, latex or cork are used. There is also a cheaper material - artificial leather, but this is not a hygienic option: the foot does not breathe, and a bad smell may appear.

Insoles "Scholl"

There are many manufacturers of such products. The products of the well-known company "Scholl" (UK), which produces products for foot care, are very popular. The "Shock-absorbing insoles for increased comfort" that many people love are double-sided, one of which is "foam", the other is fabric, with an antimicrobial layer and perforation holes for ventilation. They are marked with different sizes (from 35 to 47), which allows them to be universal by cutting off the excess.

Gel insoles

The Scholl company constantly improves its products and introduces innovative developments. Thus, last year a new product appeared - Gel Activ gel insoles that provide foot support. These are inserts for men's and women's shoes, including open and closed, with high, medium heels and flat soles, for increased comfort, active work, and sports. Manufacturers have taken care of almost everyone who spends a long time on their feet. In addition to the fact that they reduce the load on the feet while walking, they also prevent the formation of calluses and corns, absorb micro-impacts, and provide softness to the feet. This is achieved thanks to a plastic elastomer, two types of gels: hard to create cushioning and soft to reduce excess pressure when walking. They are used mainly for the prevention of heel spurs or in their early stages.

Wedge-shaped silicone heel pads

In addition to insoles, wedge-shaped silicone heel pads have been developed to relieve the foot in the heel area. They are made of neutral materials, which allows them to be used even if the skin is damaged, especially for people with diabetic feet. The silicone used in them is of two types, with different densities. High density, close to the natural density in human tissues, helps distribute the load over the entire foot. The low-density area, concentrated in the center of the heel pad, reduces pressure on the back of the foot. Such a device will reduce pain and fatigue when walking. It is recommended not only for people with Friday spurs, but also for those who spend a long time on their feet and walking for a long time, with varus and valgus foot placement, after limb injuries. When choosing a heel pad, you need to consult a doctor, because different shapes and materials are needed for different purposes.

Silicone heel pads "Trives"

Wearing Trives silicone heel pads reduces pressure on joints and feet. They are recommended not only for treating heel spurs and other foot pathologies, but also for preventing their development. In the area of the projection of the heel tubercle, the heel pad is filled with softer silicone, which makes its presence inside the shoe comfortable and does not cause significant pain, accelerates healing. The sizes of the products will satisfy any demand, as they are produced from small (S - 35-36) to large (XXL - 43-44). They can be complex in design and have a complex shape.

Shock-absorbing heel pads

Another type of foot devices are shock-absorbing heel pads. Their purpose is the same as the previous ones. They are made of leather, inside the lower and upper layers there is a removable heel shock absorber, attached to the shoe with an adhesive fastener. They are recommended to be used in one pair of shoes, because when removing them, you can damage them from the inside. They need to be cared for delicately, wiping with a damp cloth, not bringing them close to hot batteries and not exposing them to sunlight. The size range is presented in four options: S, M, L, XL from 35 to 46 sizes.

DIY heel pads

The safest option for foot correction and disease prevention is to buy ready-made products or make them to order. But in order to save money, people often take a risky step and make insoles and heel pads themselves. For the latter, you will need cork material, from which 2 pads no more than 6 mm high are cut out according to the shape of the heel. Double-sided tape is glued on one side to secure the heel pad inside the shoe. Another possible material is dense foam rubber, but it wears out quickly. Orthopedists warn "craftsmen" that you can harm yourself with such products, and it is best to resort to ready-made ones, the cheapest of which are gel ones.