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Is plantar fasciitis a pain in your arch (or heel)?

Buy the best insoles for plantar fasciitis

The pain of plantar fasciitis is caused by tiny tears in the Plantar Fascia, a thick, fibrous band of tissue that reaches from the heel to the toes, which supports the muscles and arch of the foot. When the plantar fascia becomes overly stretched, tiny tears occur in its surface, usually around the heel area where it is thinnest. The problem is aggravated by the wearing of shoes with no arch support, resulting in your entire weight bearing down on your instep.

Pain is usually worst either first thing in the morning or after prolonged periods of sitting, where the ligament has begun to try to heal itself. Because the healing is not complete, putting weight back on your foot causes repeat tearing of the ligament and the associated pain that comes with it.

It is the fluid in our insoles which makes them so effective for plantar fasciitis. Because fluid has no shape it spreads across the foot and is pushed into the arch area. Pressure from your body weight on the fluid creates a natural support for the arch as it means that you have the same pressure under the arch as you have bearing down on it. Pain relief is usually immediate. The cushioning and protection of the ligament by the fluid allows the arch to give as we walk but now with a gentle but firm support to allow the natural healing process to continue.  To speed up recovery we advise people to put the insoles in slippers when they go to bed and in the morning put the slippers on before they stand up.  The fluid is pushed straight under the arch immediately supporting the ligament and prevent any tearing from occurring enabling the healing process to continue. The gentle massaging action of the insole also increases the circulation, bringing down extra oxygen to the wound and helping to speed up the process of healing throughout the day. Healing usually takes from about 4 to 6 weeks.