Heel pain can be debilitating, affecting your daily activities and overall quality of life. Whether you're an athlete, a busy professional, or someone who spends long hours on your feet, inadequate heel support can lead to conditions like plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, and general discomfort.
Waking up every morning with a sharp pain in your heel makes it difficult even to take the first step out of bed. This pain can persist throughout the day and highly affect your productivity and mood. Without proper heel support, this discomfort can escalate, leading to more severe issues that might require medical intervention.
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It's not just about comfort; it's about maintaining your overall foot health and preventing long-term damage. We at Bodyassist understand the importance of proper heel support and its impact on your daily life. In this, we'll discuss the best support for heels that are designed to help you find the perfect solution tailored to your needs.
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So if you're dealing with plantar fasciitis, need extra cushioning for high-impact activities, or simply want to enhance your everyday comfort, our expert recommendations are backed by medical research and customer testimonials. Explore this Bodyassist blog to discover how the right heel support can transform your foot health and improve your quality of life.
Why is Heel Support Important?
Before we move forward and find the right fit of heel support for individuals, let's first take a view of its importance. So, heel support is crucial for maintaining overall foot health and preventing various musculoskeletal conditions. It serves several essential functions.
Firstly, it provides vital shock absorption, reducing the impact forces experienced during activities such as walking, running, and jumping. This reduction in stress on the heel and surrounding structures is key to preventing injuries.
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Additionally, it plays a significant role in alleviating pain associated with conditions like plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, and Achilles tendinitis. By offering cushioning and stability, it helps reduce inflammation and discomfort.
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Moreover, heel support aids in correcting foot alignment issues, such as overpronation and supination, thereby preventing further complications in the knees, hips, and lower back. Enhanced stability is another benefit, as they provide a stable base, improving balance and reducing the risk of falls, particularly in individuals with weakened or unstable ankles.
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Furthermore, they help distribute pressure more evenly across the foot, reducing the likelihood of developing calluses, blisters, and other pressure-related issues. Consistent use of heel supports can also prevent the development of chronic conditions by maintaining proper foot mechanics and reducing undue stress on the heel and arch.
So, it can be said that heel support is essential for shock absorption, pain relief, improved alignment, enhanced stability, and even pressure distribution. These benefits collectively contribute to overall foot health and the prevention of a range of musculoskeletal problems.
Which Heel Support is Right for Me?
As we have discussed before, selecting the appropriate heel support is important and depends on your specific needs and the condition you are addressing.
For general heel pain, heel cups or heel pads, typically made of gel or foam, provide essential cushioning and shock absorption.
If you suffer from plantar fasciitis, orthotic inserts or full-length insoles are beneficial. They offer comprehensive support for the entire foot, including the arch, thereby alleviating pressure on the plantar fascia.
For those with Achilles tendinitis, heel lifts are particularly advantageous. They lift the heel slightly, reducing strain on the Achilles tendon.
Custom-made or over-the-counter orthotic inserts are ideal for correcting foot alignment issues such as overpronation or supination. These inserts often include deep heel cups and arch support to assist with alignment and pressure distribution.
Compression sleeves can provide targeted compression around the heel and arch, helping to reduce inflammation and provide support. It makes them suitable for conditions like plantar fasciitis.
For night-time relief, night splints are worn while sleeping to maintain the foot in a dorsiflexed position. This helps stretch the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon and offers significant benefits for those with plantar fasciitis.
Don’t forget to consult your medical advisor to determine the most appropriate kind of heel support for your specific condition. Undoubtedly, professional assessment can provide tailored recommendations based on your individual needs.
Top Heel Supports Recommended by Bodyassist
Here are the six best heel supports available at Bodyassist:
My Feet Silicone Gel Heel Spur Cushion
This heel spur cushion has superior silicone Medical gel compound, ideal for Plantar Fasciitis.
The cupped heel design supports and comforts the heel.
Blue spot center suspends heel bone spurs.
Ideal for sports use, gardening, factory staff, construction workers, office staff, and people who stand on hard surfaces.
Assists in dissipating shock and shear, caused by impact to the heel.
Fits into existing footwear, washable and hygienic.
My Feet Silicone Heel Cradle
This heel cradle provides protection and comfort for heel spurs that help dissipate shock and shear.
Provides foot support, protection, comfort and helps reduce painful shock waves to the body, and lightens the load on joints.
Suits Plantar Fasciitis and fits easily into existing footwear.
Flexible, comfortable, and breathable with product lifetime limited warranty.
Suitable for men or women, washable and hygienic.
Tulis Classic Heel Cups
My Feet Silicone Gel Heel Spur Pads with Removable Plug
- These heel spur pads have a flat pad design with a removable teardrop plug to help suspend the bone spur around a supportive ring of silicone gel to provide foot support, protection and all day comfort.
- Snug fits into the heel of a shoe.
- Assists in reducing pain associated with Heel Spurs.
- Shock attenuation properties of this material have been proven effective in modifying heel strike trauma.
My Feet Medical Gel Footbeds - Heel to Ball (3/4 pair)
This gel footbed has blue spots located at the heel and ball of the foot, providing softer density gel panels to better accommodate sensitive areas of the feet.
Anatomically designed to support longitudinal and transverse arches.
Deep heel cups ensure superior control with less movement in the shoe.
My feet are the number 2 off-the-shelf foot orthotic for treating foot pain.
To maintain even balance we recommend wearing these in both shoes.
Dick Wicks Silicone Gel Footbeds with Magnets
This gel footbed has superior medical-grade silicone gel that perfectly emulates fatty tissue (natural shock absorber) that is usually found underfoot.
12x600 Gauss Strength NDFEB magnets.
Reduces shock waves to the body and lightens the joint load.
Diabetic friendly, popular for plantar pain, and suitable for minor cases of splayfoot.
Damaging stress forces are no longer absorbed by the body.
Easily fits into existing footwear, suits men, and women, and is washable and hygienic.
Also Read:- How to Prevent Hiccups: Tips and Tricks
The Epilogue
Proper heel support can significantly improve your daily comfort and prevent long-term foot problems. By selecting the right heel support, you can alleviate pain, enhance your posture, and enjoy a more active lifestyle.
Don't let heel pain hold you back. Take the first step towards better foot health by choosing the right heel support today. Visit our website to learn more about our products and find the perfect fit for your needs.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this blog is intended for general informational purposes only. We do not offer medical advice under any circumstances. A medical professional must be consulted for any advice, diagnosis, or treatment of health-related issues. Reliance on any information provided is solely at your own risk. The author will not be held responsible for any misuse of this information. No guarantees are made either expressed or implied. If unsure about any information presented here, please seek medical advice before using any product suggested.
FAQs
Q. What is main heel support?
Ans. Heel support provides extra cushioning and support to the heel, helping alleviate pain and improve foot alignment.
Q. How do I know if I need heel support?
Ans. If you experience heel pain or conditions like plantar fasciitis, you may benefit from heel support. Consult a podiatrist for advice.
Q. Can heel support help with plantar fasciitis?
Ans. Yes, they offer cushioning and support, reducing strain on the plantar fascia
Q. How do I choose the right heel support?
Ans. Consider your needs and activities. Orthotic insoles offer customized support, while gel insoles provide cushioning for high-impact activities.
Q. Can I use heel support in any type of shoe?
Ans. Most heel supports fit various shoe types but ensure a proper fit to avoid discomfort.