6 Shoe Insoles That Can Help Relieve Your Plantar Fasciitis Pain

Plantar fasciitis might feel like you’re repeatedly being stabbed in the heel or bottom of your foot. But can something as basic as a store-bought insole for plantar fasciitis make the pain go away, or at least make it more bearable?

Maybe—if you find the right one.

“A shoe insert can externally support the arch, thus reducing the stress or load on the arch,” explains Kenneth Jung, M.D., orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles, California. Plantar fasciitis insoles also provide a cushy cup for your heel to relieve pressure. Together, those things can help make your foot feel more comfortable.

The products aren’t cure-alls, though. Over-the-counter inserts are just one option for managing plantar fasciitis pain. (Shoes for plantar fasciitis are also worth looking into.) And because they’re inexpensive, they’re a good first option to try before considering getting fitted for custom orthotics which usually require a doctor’s prescription, Jung says.

Just keep in mind that there isn’t much research out there on how well store-bought inserts work or which ones are the most effective, says Kamran Hamid, M.D., M.P.H., a foot and ankle surgeon at Midwest Orthopedics at Rush University in Chicago, Illinois. That means personal comfort counts for a lot. Inserts should have cushioning under the arch and heel to provide support and redistribute pressure that can cause pain, say Jung and Hamid. But beyond that? “The most important aspect is how they feel to you,” Hamid says. “Some are helpful and some may exacerbate your condition.”

In other words, finding an effective insert might involve a little bit of experimenting. Here are six top-rated options on Amazon that are worth sinking your feet into.