You might surprised to hear that there are now socks designed to alleviate pain caused by plantar fasciitis. That’s right – orthopedic socks, not shoes.
Plantar fasciitis is a condition that results when the plantar fascia (the strip of connective tissue that supports the arch of the foot) becomes inflamed. This inflammation is often caused by overuse of the plantar fascia. Athletes commonly suffer from the condition due to repeated or excessive stress put on the plantar fascia that can cause the tissue to tear. Ill-fitting shoes can also cause the condition.
The plantar fascia bears the bulk of the weight of the body; shoes that do not properly distribute this weight can cause the delicate tissue on the underside of the foot to tear and become inflamed. Arthritis in the tendons of the feet sometimes results in plantar fasciitis. Heel spurs are commonly associated with this condition, although someone can have plantar fasciitis without developing heel spurs.
In order to understand how a plantar fasciitis sock works, it is helpful to think of the tissue as a big rubber band. When a person with plantar fasciitis sleeps or rests their feet, the tissue contracts. The first few steps after resting result in the tissue stretching as the arches collapse. It is this process of “stretching-out” the tissue that causes pain on the underside of the heel.
Orthopedic socks designed to treat plantar fasciitis keep the calf and arch of the foot in a neutral to stretched position. That is, they do not allow the plantar fascia to contract during rest or sleep. This eliminates the pain that usually accompanies the first few steps in the morning. The socks can be worn for several hours during the day, or through the night.
It is important to note that orthopedic socks are a supplementary treatment for plantar fasciitis. They do not cure the condition but simply provide additional pain relief. That said, podiatrists believe that orthopedic socks speed up the process of healing because they reduce the likelihood of the tissue tearing. They are also more affordable than orthopedic shoes (most socks run around 40 dollars) and are easy to wash and maintain. They should not be worn with shoes but should be treated as a sort of special nighttime “splint”.
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