Insole for heel pain

Heel pain is one of the most common conditions in most people who suffer from some type of pain or discomfort in their feet.
There are different reasons why you may suffer from heel pain.
In this article we will find out what factors cause pain in this area, and what insoles for heel pain are available on the market that can help you improve your day to day life.

Causes of heel pain

The 3 most common causes of heel pain are plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and heel spurs.

But we also find other more specific and less common ones, such as:

• Sarcoidosis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Stress fractures
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome
• Paget’s disease
• Bursitis
• Bone tumor, or
• Osteomyelitis

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a pathology that affects the sole of the foot, producing pain in this area due to inflammation of the fascia.
Specifically between the metatarsals and the heel.
The causes of plantar fasciitis are diverse, but among them we find age, obesity, or the use of inadequate footwear.
Also, having cavus or valgus feet.

It is quite common in athletes, especially runners, because they practice an impact sport in which the sole of the foot suffers a lot.
If the footwear is not adequate, or the weight distribution of our body when walking does not occur in an optimal way, it is possible that plantar fasciitis is generated by the inflammation of the tissue that crosses the sole of the foot.
If you want to know more about plantar fasciitis, we recommend this article we published a few weeks ago.

What is Achilles tendinitis?

The Achilles tendon connects the muscles of the back of the leg below the knee (the calf) to the heel bone.
Achilles tendonitis, therefore, is the inflammation of this tendon, produced by an overload in the area.

It is common in athletes who suddenly increase the practice of sport (especially runners), or among people who practice sport sporadically or on weekends.

The symptoms of Achilles tendinitis are pain in the back of the leg or above the ankle, especially after playing sports.

What is calcaneal spur?

As for the calcaneal spur, it is the generation of a bony mass in the heel, in the shape of a hook, which hurts especially when walking, because in a normal way, we rest the heel on the ground when stepping.
The heel spur is sometimes caused by plantar fasciitis, and in general, by an incorrect weight distribution of our body when walking.
Therefore, an incorrect footfall and insufficient support.

You can see that most of the pathologies that we can suffer in the feet are, in a certain way, connected.
And the causes are, also for the great majority of foot pathologies, almost always an incorrect distribution of weight when walking.
This is caused by inadequate support (inappropriate footwear), excessive weight, excessive impact sports or a sudden increase in frequency, or old age.
As long as we keep in mind that we are talking about mild conditions, and not more serious ones that occur in a less frequent and more specific way.

Insole for heel pain

As for the Insole for heel pain, you have different options available on the market:

• Insole custom-made by an orthopedist
• Insole with gel – comfortable
• Smou Insoles

Insole for heel pain handmade by an orthopedist, are usually expensive, as they are custom made.
And price is not an issue as long as we are talking about eliminating pain.
But keep in mind that custom-made Inoles are usually uncomfortable and too stiff, due to the materials used in their development.
Obviously they are custom-made for you, but 80% of patients end up not wearing them within a few months of starting to use them.

Insoles for heel pain made of gel are very comfortable, but they do not usually provide much support.
This is also due to the materials from which they are made.
Gel is a material that provides comfort and some cushioning, but it is also a material that deforms quite quickly, losing its consistency.
In addition, insoles for foot pain made with gel do not provide support to the sole of the foot, since they are made entirely of gel and do not usually incorporate more rigid elements that allow proper support and support of the foot.

Insole for heel pain Smou

Finally, we would like to tell you about Smou heel pain insoles, which are a solution halfway between an orthopedist’s insoles and gel insoles.
Smou insoles are made with rigid materials that give you the right support in the plantar arch.
They also incorporate a layer of latex foam gel with breathable and absorbent microfiber.
So you get the right rigidity and comfort you need in your day to day life.

In addition, and this is especially interesting for all those who suffer from heel pain, they incorporate a removable piece, which ensures adequate relief on the heel.

Its design and manufacturing materials are no coincidence, Smou insoles were born after years of orthopedic consultation.
Clara Pérez-Bonfils, its founder, realized that 90% of foot pain was caused mainly by 3 pathologies: heel spurs, metatarsalgia and plantar fasciitis.
So she decided to create a universal solution that would be useful for most people with foot pain.

Each type of insole for heel pain has its pros and cons.
Now it’s up to you to decide which one you think is best for you!

If you want to know more about Smou Insole, click on this link.