There are so many conditions and even injuries that may lead to heel pain. The most common conditions include plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, heel spurs, and fractures. Even nerve compression can cause heel pain. Generally, you can have a number of different injuries affecting your heels, though these conditions aren’t necessarily caused by one thing. Wearing the wrong shoes, even the wrong sandal for heel pain, can worsen the symptoms or cause your heel pain. That is why you need the best sandal for heel pain, which supports and cushions your feet.
Heel Pain Causes and Prevention
Heel pain is a common foot problem that many people experience, especially during their workout routines. This article will help you to understand the causes and prevention for heel pain. According to experts, this kind of pain can be associated either with the heel bone or with other tissues around the area. Uninterrupted activities and lack of warmup may also trigger this kind of discomfort.
Causes and Risk Factors of Heel Pain
Your heel is a complex structure of 26 bones and 33 joints, with several muscles, tendons, and ligaments all working together to keep it flexible and strong. It has a large bone (calcaneus) that’s the first point of contact when you walk or run. If you’re injured or have a condition that causes pain in your heel, it can affect your ability to do these activities.
Your heels take a lot of abuse, which is why heel pain is so common. You may have injured your heel stepping on a hard object, twisting your ankle, or even from a hard impact during activity. Other causes may be plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, Achilles tendinitis, or Bursitis. Arthritis, being overweight, and wearing improper footwear are some risks that can increase your chances of heel pain.
Managing Heel Pain
Heel pain can be a real hassle. Many people have to walk around in pain before they realize that they can do something about it.
While no one should have to suffer through constant heel pain, many people don’t know what to do about it.
For starters, you can manage heel pain in a few ways. Firstly make sure that the shoes and sandals you wear offer proper support and cushioning for your feet, especially your heels. The right pair of shoes can significantly reduce heel pain.
If this isn’t enough, you can use pain relieves or ice on your heel for the pain. Massages and stretching exercises may also help.
But if nothing else works, it’s time to see a doctor. Diagnosing the cause of your heel pain is important so you can use the correct treatment. Common causes of heel pain include plantar fasciitis, bursitis, and Achilles tendonitis as well as other problems in the foot, like a broken bone or nerve problem.
Preventing Heel Pain
There are a number of ways to prevent heel pain from occurring:
Keep your tendons flexible. Stretching the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia can help keep them from becoming too tight.
Wear proper footwear. Choose shoes that have a soft sole and a low heel, preferably one that is shock-absorbing. Avoid wearing high-heeled or hard-soled shoes.
Avoid activities that cause a hard impact on your heels and feet. Such activities include running, jogging, or walking on hard surfaces, such as cement and asphalt.
Choosing Sandals for Heel Pain
Whether you are suffering from plantar fasciitis or a heel spur, sandals can be a good choice with the right features. First of all, let’s look at some important elements to consider in buying a sandal for heel pain:
Good Fit – Any good sandal should fit properly and not easily slip off your feet. You don’t want to have to constantly readjust your sandals or worry about them flying off when you walk. A secure fit is especially important if you will be participating in activities such as hiking or playing sports.
Avoid Flats – generally, if you have heel pain, and overall I would avoid flat sandals as they offer little to no support for your feet and heels.
Heel Counter – A sandal with a sturdy heel counter or closed style heel, or even heel cup provides stability and support for the heel. The more rigid the counter, the better it will help prevent overpronation (when the foot rolls inward more than necessary) which can result in more pain for those who already have pains in their feet and heels.
Arch Support – When the arch of your foot is supported, weight and impacts spread more evenly, and there is less strain on your heels.
Features of a Good Sandal for Heel Pain
The best sandals for heel pain should have the right features to make walking comfortable.
Features of a Good Sandal for Heel Pain
Upper: leather, polyester, rubber or EVA uppers are all comfortable. Look for sandal with adjustable uppers for heel pain, so that you can get a secure and comfortable fit.
Footbed: the footbed is important as it needs to support and cushion your feet. EVA or memory foam cushioning I ideal, and an anatomically shaped, or arch support footbed. Some sandals may also have a closed heel, or heel cup design.
Outsole: look for a grippy rubber outsole that is thick and provides good shock absorbency.
Fit: the sandal should offer a snug, but still comfortable, and secure fit.
Size & Color Options: from the models we have chosen, there should be options regarding colors, widths, and plenty of sizes.
Reviews: The Best Sandals for Heel Pain
We often hear that fashion and comfort are opposites, but not always. Preparing for summer, we already can select a lot of new samples of sandals for heel pain. Sandals for heel pain are one of the most demanded types of footwear in the summertime. In addition to being comfortable, they have an original design and sophisticated model.
Sandal for Heel Pain
The Colleen and the Canoe are both ideal sandals for heel pain. They feature podiatrist-designed cushioned footbeds with proper support and stability. The Colleen is a ladies sandal with leather uppers with adjustable hook and loop closures to get the perfect fit. The Canoe for men has leather uppers lined and adjustable for your convenience. Both sandals have durable rubber outsoles for longer wear.
Heel Pain Sandals
A lot of people are battling heel pain, or want to prevent it. Here are two sandal models from Dr. Scholl’s that will help you in your daily life. Here we have the Gus for men on the left, it has genuine leather uppers and is a comfortable roomy fit for those with wide feet because of the adjustable straps. It features a cushioned memory foam footbed that conforms to the shape of your foot, providing ample impact protection and a durable rubber outsole for stability. On the other side, is the Adelle 2 leather sandal, which has some gorgeous colors available, an adjustable hook, and loop closure upper also perfect for those with wide feet. It also features a comfortable Insole Technology Footbed with cushioning and proper support, with a lightweight, flexible sole that is stylishly hidden under the leather exterior.
Sandal for Heel Pain
These Wayfarer sandals are so supportive to your feet and equally attractive that you can wear them all day long. The genuine leather upper is a work of art in itself, with its multiple straps and intricate detailing that accentuate the natural bell shape of your foot. The Loveseat footbed will cradle your feet and give them as much support and comfort as they need; it is designed to mold to the contours of your feet for an exceptional feel and fit. As with all Chaco products, these sandals are backed by a lifetime warranty and offer supreme quality, keeping you coming back for more!
Elegant Sandal for Heel Pain
The Rockport Darwyn is a Fisherman-style sandal with leather uppers and mesh linings that wick away moisture. The Darwyn features our exclusive truTECH lightweight shock-absorbing technology and cushioning with a PU outsole for further shock absorbency. Our ladies’ Rockport Flat sandal has leather uppers with adjustable straps for an easy fit. It has a cushioned comfort insole and good arch support, along with a durable and sturdy rubber outsole.
Sandal for Heel Pain
The Birkenstock Arizona sandal is fairly basic, but that is what makes it so effective. It offers quality construction and anatomical comfort. The polyurethane sole offers cushioning and flexibility while remaining slip-resistant. If you have heel pain, the latex cushioning offers great shock absorbance, and the cork footbed has been designed to accommodate your foot’s natural form. The adjustable buckle keeps the sandal firmly in place on your foot.
Slide Sandal for Heel Pain
The Dr. Martens Myles sandal features a lightweight, platform-style design and comfortable cushioning. The rugged upper is made of vegan leather and provides two straps, with adjustable buckle closures, for a customized fit. The thick rubber sole will absorb impact and protect your feet, so you can wear these anywhere.
