Plantar Fasciitis Causes And Treatment For Nurses

As a nurse your going to be working long shifts. A nurse works an average of 12-hour shifts each day and this can cause a major strain on your legs, feet, and calf. This just makes your job even more difficult to perform so it’s always in your best interest to find a permanent solution to feet pain. There’s some good news because Plantar Fasciitis is a very common problem amongst professionals especially nurses, so we have learned a lot about the causes and treatments available.

Let’s explore Plantar Fasciitis and how you can get help as a nurse to give you the comfort you need everyday. We want to give you that peace of mind knowing that you’re doing everything possible to stay comfortable on your feet. We are going to be exploring the following…

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?
What It Effects Nurses So Often?
Plantar Fasciitis Treatments for Nurses (Exercises, Shoes, Compression Socks, Insoles)
The Best Shoes for Nurses with Plantar Fasciitis
The Best Compression Socks for Plantar Fasciitis
The Best Insoles for Plantar Fasciitis

QUICK LINKS

Top Nursing Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis
Top Compression Socks for Plantar Fasciitis
Top Insoles for Plantar Fasciitis

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

This is a very common question we receive. You need to understand what Plantar Fasciitis is and how it affects your everyday life. Plantar Fasciitis is inflammation in the plantar fascia (tissue) after it weakens, tears and becomes strained overtime. There are many reasons why this happens however it’s believed excessive use with the wrong shoes, your body weight, etc. play an important role. For example, most nurses can suffer from plantar fasciitis because of the long shifts at work and constantly being on their feet throughout the day. Let’s explore this further.

Source

Plantar Fasciitis in Nurses

Plantar Fasciitis is very common amongst nurses because they are constantly on their feet throughout the day. The job itself puts nurses in a hectic environment and this can lead to inflammation in the plantar fascia (tissue) causing the bone and tissue to constantly irritate each other. Later, this same pain can flare into Plantar Fasciitis.

Age – Nurses are of all ages and this is an important reason why you can suffer from Plantar Fasciitis. For example, did you know as you age, your feet can widen and flatten? That’s right! And it doesn’t help if you continue to use the same footwear and are a bit overweight too. So, as you age the feet flatten with the arch completely disappearing. Once the arch flattens, it’s harder for your foot to distribute weight evenly though out. This leads to strain and damage within the arch area leading to inflammation i.e. Plantar Fasciitis. You should consider your arch as padding for the rest of your foot and without it, most of the stress lands on your heel and bone.

Solution – There is nothing you can really do about the fact your aging but you can reduce the stress on your feet overtime by keeping fit and reducing your overall weight as much as possible. This will eliminate the stress on your feet because a heavier weight means your feet must carry that weight for long periods of time. Remember, nurses are on their feet all day so you can expect to carry your body weight throughout the day.

Certain Conditions – by this we mean certain neuropathic and inflammatory conditions. Arthritis is stiffness of the joints and muscle (tissue) inflammation. For example, “Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition that affects the joints and often affects the small joints located in the feet. This condition causes inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues, and this inflammation makes rheumatoid arthritis sufferers more prone to plantar fasciitis” – JointFlex

Arthritis can affect many people and not just nurses however many nurses do suffer from it. As you age, arthritis can become more of a problem so if you suffer from it and are a nurse, you might want to get help specifically for this.

Wrong Footwear – wearing the best nursing shoes is very important because some shoe brands are made specifically for nurses. For example, some nursing shoes are constructed using mesh so they expand as you wear them giving you more room for your toe box. Some use special insoles to protect the arch and they mold to the shape of your foot. This ensures the arch remains in form and your body weight is distributed throughout your foot correctly. Remember, as you lose the arch shape in your foot, you foot begins to flatten causing you to have wider feet. With wider feet the arch is no longer around to distribute your body weight throughout. This leads to heel pain then inflammation and can cause Plantar Fasciitis later on.

Solution – always invest in quality shoes and those which are durable for every type of environment. Please view out post on the 50+ Best Nursing Shoes for Women – Clogs, Sneakers, Stylish, And Cute!

Plantar Fasciitis Treatments for Nurses

After doing research online, we have found two main causes of Plantar Fasciitis in nursing –

1) Wrong Footwear – because nurses are on their feet for long hours, having the wrong footwear could cause serious injury to the plantar fascia (tissue) after prolonged periods of time. Maybe the shoes you are wearing don’t have the right insoles or the shoes don’t have enough padding supporting your arch. Either way, making sure you have the best pair of nursing clogs and/or sneakers during your shifts is very important. What are a high quality pair of nursing shoes? Well…

Arch support – I like to say – it’s all about the arch. The arch in your foot is responsible for distributing your body weight throughout your foot. With equal distribution, you have less impact on your heel and plantar fascia (tissue).

Lightweight – choose shoes that are lightweight because these can be easier to walk in. Lighter shoes will allow you to maintain the right type of posture. The right posture is very important to eliminate back pain and knee pain.

A wide enough toe box – you don’t want your toes squeezed up in the front of the shoes. A squeezed foot will not allow you to keep your natural form when walking. This will eventually cause strain on your entire foot leading to Plantar Fasciitis.

2) Injury Not Heeling – If you’ve had a foot injury where your heel was damaged, and it wasn’t healed properly then this can lead to Plantar Fasciitis. Again, from the illustration below, you can see how the plantar fascia (tissue) runs the entire length of the foot.

Source

As the plantar fascia (tissue) deteriorates, you begin to suffer heel pain because the tissue is NO LONGER around to protect the bone underneath. Therefore, the plantar fascia (tissue) is important to over foot health. If you injure this tissue, you need to make sure you safely rehabilitate it so it’s 100%. The slightest inflammation in the tissue will cause it to rub up against the bone causing long-term irritation. Since nurses are on their feet for a long-time, this tissue gets irritated quickly and doesn’t get the rest it needs to heal. If the tissue has been injured and is causing pain overtime, you should take sometime off to let it get better. It’s important to note, injury to this tissue can happen while playing sports, running, and walking with the wrong pair of shoes. Sometimes, it’s not even the shoes but your overall lifestyle.

As mentioned above, the shoes can help reduce the pain and even eliminate Plantar Fasciitis. However, many factors do play a role when determining how and when you develop Plantar Fasciitis. For example, age, weight, foot structure, shoes, and conditions i.e. arthritis.

The Best Shoes for Nurses with Plantar Fasciitis

Here is our list of best nursing shoes for Plantar Fasciitis. These shoes have or are –

100% Mesh/Synthetic – I like shoes with mesh because this is a soft expandable material. If you have wide feet than mesh material will expand providing you more room to walk freely.

Removable Insoles – this is very important for those nurses who are using their own custom orthotic support. We understand some nurses are already suffering from Plantar Fasciitis so have custom insoles for support.

Verso-Shock Technology – It is designed to absorb harmful shock from the ground up, converting the shock into renewed positive energy for your next step.

Anatomical precise-return footbed – very important because the insole will mold to the shape of your foot. It also aims to provide energy transfer upon foot strike.

Heel Gel – People who suffer from Plantar Fasciitis often feel pain in the heel, so this gel acts as added protection to reduce pain.

Here are the Top 5 best nursing shoes for Plantar Fasciitis –

Ryka Women’s Devotion Plus 2 Walking Shoe

Amazon rating (4.8/5) – 1,329 Reviews

 

These are one of the best nursing shoes for plantar fasciitis because they use a 100% mesh/synthetic design which will force the material to expand if you have wider feet than normal. The upper mesh is also breathable which will allow for more airflow to keep feet cool and eliminate odor. The Ryka Women’s Devotion Plus 2 Walking Shoe come with rezorb footbed to reduce shock when walking. This is important if you already suffer from foot pain because it will help reduce the shock with each step.  In short, this provides responsive cushioning and shock absorption. The insoles are already built with high arch support however can be removed if you want to insert your own. 

Quick Features:

• 100% Mesh/Synthetic
• Imported
• Synthetic sole
• Shaft measures approximately low-top from arch
• Weighs 8.3 oz
• Breathable mesh upper with supportive synthetic overlays
• Anatomical precise-return footbed
• Lightweight molded eva outsole features a full length rezorb platform; external pod network between midsole and outsole, and full length internal insert
• Eight-piece radiused skeletal rubber works simultaneously with the re-zorb midsole and cobblestone engineering

Brooks Women’s Glycerin 15

Amazon rating (4.5/5) – 2,013 Reviews

 

The Brooks Women’s Glycerin 15 are another amazing pair of shoes when suffering from plantar fasciitis. They are constructed out of mesh which allows them to expand to the shape of your feet. This will give you more room too. They have a rubber sole which is perfect for those rough and tough environments. These shoes have a cushioned footbed perfect to absorb the extra shock from the ground which helps reduce and can even prevent pain. Check out this review from a customer –

“These shoes have been a godsend to me! I am not a runner, my reason for purchase was a severe case of plantar fasciitis plus a bone spur on my heel, so much so that even walking around the house or with daily activities was extremely painful. A Podiatrist told me I needed a good stability tennis shoe and to do stretches multiple times a day. I looked at numerous shoes, mostly New Balance, because that was her first recommendation. Nothing felt good until I tried on the Brooks Adrenaline 18 at a store. As soon as I put it on, it felt like a slice of heaven! So I went home and ordered through Amazon. I am wearing them with the premium orthotics from the Walking Company, so I can’t speak to what the footbed feels like without them. But in general, the comfort is amazing! The padding around the ankle is supreme and feels like it holds my foot in a secure position.”

Quick Features:

• Mesh
• Imported
• Rubber sole
• Give your feet the boost they need during short or long runs with the Brooks® Glycerin 15. With its cushioned footbed and steady ride, you can go from mile marker 1-13 in comfort every step of the way. Take each mile in stride with Brooks Running

---

Saucony Women’s ProGrid Integrity ST2 Walking Shoe

Amazon rating (4.5/5) – 2,183 Reviews

 

The Saucony Women’s ProGrid have amazing reviews on Amazon and the customers have stated they help enormously with plantar fasciitis. The shoes give you many awesome features like a foot stretch zone so your feet have more room and they don’t squeeze in the toe box. Next, these shoes have progrid cushioning perfect for those suffering from foot pain already and need that extra comfort. This also helps absorb against shock helping reduce body weight on your feet. They are made with full-grain leather so are quality shoes and durable. Check this review – “I have problem feet and plantar fasciitis issues and I’m always buying new shoes. These are the most comfortable shoes that I’ve worn in a long time and I liked them so much that I got my Mom a pair too. “

Quick Features:

• 100% Full-grain leather
• Imported
• Rubber sole
• Shaft measures approximately low-top from arch
• Non-marking walking shoe with padded tongue and collar and durable XT-900 material in high-wear portions of outsole
• Features offset of 12mm
• Walk-Trac comfort outsole

---

OOFOS – Unisex OOCloog – Post Run Sports Recovery Clog

Amazon rating (4/5) – 2,183 Reviews

These are the only nursing clog type shoes on our list that provide plantar fasciitis support. The OOCloog – Post Run Sports Recovery Clog come with a synthetic sole and the patented footbed cradles your arches to reduce stress on sore feet, ankles, knees and lower back. As you know from reading the above content, the foot arch is very important in keeping your body weight distributed evenly throughout your feet. This takes a lot of weight off the plantar fascia tissue (under heel bone). The recovery foam is designed to take 37% more impact than MOST other shoes. 

 

Quick Features:

• Synthetic
• Imported
• Rubber sole
• OOfoam Recovery Technology absorbs 37% more impact than traditional footwear foam
• Patented footbed cradles your arches to reduce stress on sore feet, ankles, knees and lower back
• Biomechanically designed to allow natural motion
• Machine washable

---

The Best Compression Socks for Plantar Fasciitis

Compression socks are an amazing tool to help with plantar fasciitis because they apply pressure to the lower legs. This helps with blood flow, reducing pain, and inflammation. Inflammation in your feet is what causes your heel bone to strike the plantar fascia (tissue). However, when choosing the right pair of compression socks, it’s important to invest in a quality, durable, and comfortable pair. Don’t choose a pair too big or ones that would rip easily.

Here are the Top 5 best compression socks for nurses suffering from Plantar Fasciitis –

SB SOX Compression Foot Sleeves for Men & Women

Amazon rating (4.8/5) – 6,481 Reviews

The Bitly Compression Socks are full management socks that can be worn day and night. They are very comfortable with a design constructed specifically for plantar fasciitis. These socks are breathable with fast drying fabric. The Bitly socks come with arch support so you have relief around the heel area. They are designed with USA with Interlocked Stitching and are machine Washable & dryer safe. These socks are designed with innovation compression technology to improve circulation in your foot and ankle to reduce swelling.

Here’s something a customer said about these socks –

“My plantar fasciitis was severe and took over a year to fully resolve. I tried braces, sleeves, creams and eventually I saw a podiatrist. These are the second best thing that I used to help me with my plantar fasciitis. The best thing was my podiatrist and the steroid shot I received. These sleeves however, reduced and eventually eliminated my pain while walking. I tried a couple other brands they turned out to be worthless, but these work great. I would not wear any sleeve while sleeping.”

Quick Features:

• Very Comfortable for All Day Wear
• Great Support Socks for Exercising, Pregnancy, & Standing for Long Period of Time
• Gives Pain Relief for Foot Pain, Plantar Fasciitis, Ankle Pain, & Heel Spurs
• Can be Worn Morning & Night to Reduce Pain & Inflammation
• Extremely Breathable & Fast Drying Fabric
• Great Gift Idea for Athletes, Pregnant Moms, & People Who Suffer from Foot Pain
• Easy to Take Off & Put Back On
• Provides Arch Support
• Designed in the USA with Interlocked Stitching
• Machine Washable & Dryer Safe

---

Plantar Fasciitis Socks with Arch Support for Men & Women

Amazon rating (4.6/5) – 2,130 Reviews

These arch support compression socks are amazing in you are on your feet all day. They are lightweight and can be worn with shoes. High quality and durable so last forever. A great investment! The actually design was made keeping people with plantar fasciitis in mind. For example, they reduce swelling and increase blood flow. They have targeted arch support to help stabilize your plantar fascia ligament. The power technology arch, heel and foot support in all the right places.

Quick Features:

• High quality and durable
• Designed to reduce swelling and increase blood flow
• Constructed with quality stitching
• Power Support technology provides targeted foot, heel, arch and ankle support in all the right places
• Targeted arch support stabilizes your plantar fascia ligament

---

---

ZaTech Plantar Fasciitis Sock, Compression Socks

Amazon rating (4.2/5) – 1,439 Reviews

 

The Zatech compression socks are very lightweight and durable. They are so thin that you can wear them with shoes. High quality means your investment will last a longtime which is important. The socks have targeted compression zones and elastic layers that work perfectly together to relieve pain and increase blood flow to lessen the pain from Plantar Fasciitis. The socks provide increased blood flow to the damaged tissue. These socks have an amazing rating on Amazon so I encourage you to check them out 🙂

Quick Features:

• Excellent Heel, Ankle, Arch & Achilles
• Lightweight & durable
• Targeted compression zones
• Second Skin Fit Design
• Strong compression great to increase blood flow,  circulation

---

CHARMKING Compression Socks For Nurses 15-20 mmHg

Amazon rating (4.5/5) – 3,862 Reviews

Compression socks with over 3000+ reviews on Amazon. These are made with high quality material and are durable. The breathable material allows for your feet to stay dry and eliminates odor which is very important when your a nurse and on your feet all day. These have a compression level of 15-20 mmHg (medium) which is perfect to get the blood flowing through your legs and feet while not being to tight. Here is a review from one of the customers – 

“I purchased these for my wife for work as she is constantly standing. She absolutely loves them and can’t believe how much they help her during the day. And she would be what I would consider an expert on this type of thing, seeing as she is a physical therapist.” 

Quick Features:

• High quality and durable
• Stimulate blood flow and circulation
• Anti-odor & anti-static
• Tired, aching, fatigued, and swollen feet
• Shin splints, and calf muscle pull
• Plantar fasciitis, and achilles tendonitis
• Edema, lymphedema, and venous insufficiencies
• Post-surgical recovery, and athletic recovery
• DVT, spider veins, and varicose veins

---

The Best Insoles for Plantar Fasciitis

Shoes for those suffering from plantar fasciitis come with insoles made to protect the heel. However, you can also purchase your own insoles specifically designed for your feet. Some insoles will mold to the contour of your foot so your arch remains intact. Some have gel to absorb shock with each step. Choose a pair of insoles that suit your needs and will make every step as comfortable as the first ????

Here are the Top 5 Best Insoles for Nurses with Plantar Fasciitis –

WalkHero Plantar Fasciitis Feet Insoles Arch Supports Orthotics

Amazon rating (4.7/5) – 3,311 Reviews

The WalkHero Insoles are made specifically for people who need support for plantar fasciitis and arch support. The insoles are made from high quality fabric that keeps your feet cool and allows for airflow. This helps keep your feet dry and odorless. The fabric absorbs shock from your body weight it easier to walk. These provide moderate control and support in walking or casual hiking shoes, work shoes and boots.Comfort and cushioning for all types of leisure or everyday footwear

Quick Features:

• All day comfort
• High quality and durable
• Material for  shock absorption and pain relief
• Improves foot and leg alignment
• Fabric helps keep feet cool
• Reduce and/or prevent plantar fasciitis

---

Physix Gear Sport Full Length Orthotic Inserts with Arch Support

Amazon rating (4.5/5) – 2,328 Reviews

 

The Physix Gear Sport Full Length Orthotic Inserts are one of the best shock absorption insoles. These have been designed to encourage arch support to help reduce the pain from plantar fasciitis. Made from high quality material and are durable, these insoles have dual layer foam for added protection. Re-align the feet and control excess pronation (inward rolling of the feet and collapsing of the arches). Check out the followign review from a customer –

“I slipped these orthotic inserts into a pair of Merrell shoes that I was about ready to throw away. They do not make that model any longer, so I couldn’t buy a replacement pair of shoes. These inserts made the shoes feel like new. In a few days of wearing the shoes with the new inserts, the morning plantar fasciitis pain I was experiencing went away and hasn’t come back.” 

Quick Features:

• Supreme quality
• Deep Heel Cradle for Stability
• Anti-Microbial Top Fabric
• Low Profile Design, Ultra-Thin
• Dual Layer Foam
• Dual Base Layered High-performance EVA foam

---

Superfeet Professional-Grade High Arch Orthotic Insert for Maximum Support

Amazon rating (4.1/5) – 6,786 Reviews

Superfeet professional high grade insoles have helped thousands of people deal with their foot, neck and back pain. These have over 6,000 reviews on Amazon and I know why. These come with a high density layer foam for long lasting comfort. These also have a stabilizer cap at the base which provides structure and stability to the foam layer. The deep heel cup design has the widest and deepest cup (heel) that offers maximum support for shock absorption. This helps provide extra comfort with every step that you take. 

Quick Features:

• Imported
• 2″ high and 4″ wide
• High volume / High profile (Volume refers to the amount of space the insole will take up in your shoe. Profile is how much shape you can expect to feel under your foot). Full-length Superfeet insoles are supposed to be trimmed to fit in your shoes
• STABILIZER CAP: acts as the base of the insole that supports the rearfoot and provides structure and stability to the foam layer
• DEEP HEEL CUP: features the widest and deepest heel cup that offers maximum support and can help with natural shock absorption
• SUPERFEET SHAPE: a high profile shape to help stabilize and support the foot, which can help reduce stress on feet, ankles and knees
• HIGH-DENSITY FOAM LAYER: closed-cell foam supports and cushions the foot for long-lasting comfort. Durable construction.

---

Powerstep Pinnacle Shoe Insoles – Shock-Absorbing Arch Support and Cushioning for Plantar Fasciitis

Amazon rating (4.4/5) – 5,401 Reviews

 

Quick Features:

• High quality and durable
• Maximum cushioning
• Durable EVA foam base and plush top layer
• Flexible arch support and deep heel cradle increase foot support
• Heat and friction reducing fabric helps feet stay cool
• Supports all arch types

---

Dr. Scholl’s PLANTAR FASCIITIS Pain Relief Orthotics

Amazon rating (4/5) – 862

 

We had to include Dr. Dr. Scholl’s for plantar fasciitis on this list because they have been in the market for years providing insoles for pain relief. These have been designed for the people suffering from plantar fasciitis in the heel. These insoles come with shock guard technology that provides immediate relief right away and can help reduce morning pain too. Can fit in almost any type of shoes and can be trimmed too. Also, the full-length insole cushions and supports the entire foot. Check out this review –

“I’ve had plantar fasciitis in both feet for two yrs now. I have tried many different insoles and this is the first pair that have given me any relief. I bought several pairs and insert them into other shoes. I’m still limited in what shoes I can wear, so far saucony sneakers work for me with these insoles. I don’t have perfect relief, but these have made me much more comfortable in combination with foot exercises I do on a daily basis, I highly recommend them.”

Quick Features:

• Designed for people who suffer pain from plantar fasciitis in the heel
• With Shock Guard Technology to provide immediate and all-day relief of pain from plantar fasciitis and can help reduce morning pain from plantar fasciitis
• Full-length insole cushions and supports the entire foot
• Fits Casual shoes, Sneakers & Work boots/shoes. Trim to fit shoe size

---

Closing Thoughts…

Plantar Fasciitis can interfere with your day to day activities. If you’re a nurse, then it’s important you get the RIGHT treatment immediately. As a nurse, you’ll be on your feet for long hours and Plantar Fasciitis can limit the type of care you provide your patients.

We have done our best to provide you with the BEST information possible. We’ve also listed a few treatment options i.e. shoes, compression socks, and insoles.

Additional Resources