Best Tennis Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis
Generally, the sole of the foot is a delicate part of the body. And that’s a primary reason we wear shoes to protect the fragile yet vital body part. For athletes, there is, even more, a need to protect the feet and every part associated with it. And that’s for obvious reasons, and you need your legs for good mobility.
As an athlete, you need to guard the health of your feet jealously. It starts with your choice of footwear during gameplay. Then, you also have to pay attention to minor pains and injuries on your feet. Many times, it’s minor untended injuries that result in full-blown ones.
One of the nightmares of sports athletes, especially racket sports like Tennis, Racketball, Pickleball, and the likes is a foot injury called Plantar Fasciitis. In severe cases of the injury, players have to take an injury break for weeks.
But luckily, Plantar Fasciitis can both be prevented and managed by using shoes designed for such cases. We see a few products among the best tennis shoes for Plantar Fasciitis. But before then, let’s talk a quick swipe through what the condition is all about.
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What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar Fasciitis, also called Policeman’s foot, is a type of injury commonly associated with athletic sports. It occurs when there is an inflammation of the fascia – a thick tissue found at the foot’s bottom.
The fascia is the ligament connecting the toes to the heel. Ordinarily, the foot is a curved bone covered with muscles. So, to assume proper shape, another connecting tissue that acts as a cushion is needed. In essence, the Plantar Fascia’s role is to support the arch of the foot during movement.
What then leads to the inflammation of the Plantar Fascia? Simply put, it’s caused by excessive pressure applied to the tissue. This doesn’t necessarily have to be you carrying a set of weights with your feet. Walking or running around for a long time can compound a lot of pressure on the foot leading to inflammation.
When the fascia in the foot becomes swollen, it is known by a sensation of pain felt mostly at the heel. And when the inflammation grows, the pain becomes more acute. This is usually experienced when you try to stretch the feet after long hours of relaxation. Like after waking up or having sat for long.
Care for Plantar Fasciitis
Taking care of the foot when it feels sore requires being gentle. And take my word for it when I say that Plantar Fasciitis can be a harrowing experience. Hence, mild measures are more suitable to soothe the pain and heal the wound.
Usually, Plantar Fasciitis heals without treatment. But in cases where the pain is much or where it has prolonged more than usual, certain practices can aid removal of the inflammation.
- Rest: It goes without saying that the first step to relieving the pain on your foot is to get rid of any activities that can lead to pressure on the foot. And what better way to do so other than to keep your legs off the ground. If you developed the condition from constant play, take a break for a week or two. Then, make sure you walk around as minimally as possible. And hopefully, time would get your body to heal itself.
- Icing the heel: Using ice on the heel after vigorous exercise can help relax the muscles and nerves. In the same vein, when there’s swelling such as in Plantar Fasciitis, you can place ice cubes on the heel affected for 5 – 10 minutes and at intervals. Combine this with adequate rest; you would get your feet back in shape in no time.
- Using Insoles: Although this is more of a preventive measure, it can also be used to cushion the pain when there’s already an inflammation. These are designed to fit any shoe you wear and provide support for your feet while you walk. These are quite effective given the plush feel on the feet’s sole. The padding also makes your leg sit rightly in the shoe, preventing further straining of the feet’s muscles.
The best solution, however, for Plantar Fasciitis is to get shoes that are designed specifically to cushion a strained fascia. What are the qualities to look for in such footwear? We’ll examine them here.
Cushioned Heel
Plantar Fasciitis results when the fascia us pulled and pushed time and over again within a short time. This often occurs when we run or walk around a lot. But when you have a shoe with cushioned heels, you have something to rest your body pressure on, rather than your feet heels. The cushioned heel for plantar fasciitis is one that is soft and not the hard sole options.
Arch Support
The arch of the foot is the area that concerns the plantar fascia the most. The arch region is made of muscles and ligaments. These connect the heel of the foot to the toe region. When the arch is strained, then there would pain around the heel, just as is experienced in Plantar Fasciitis. The arch area of a well-designed shoe would therefore have a small bulge, which also provides the necessary support for the feet.
Stability and Comfort
In Tennis, you need good mobility to stay on top of the game. And this would require your foot to turn and stay on the ground as firmly as possible. What can give you such mobility is when the shoes are well fitted.
Stability has to do with the firmness of your footwear on your feet. For people with Plantar Fasciitis, you need shoes that would keep your feet steady. In addition to that, you need to be comfortable on your feet. Comfortability is relative and depends mostly on fitting size. But it would be best if you took note of the material used in making tennis shoes also.
Top 7 Best Tennis Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis
1.
Wilson Rush Pro 3.0 Tennis Shoes
The Wilson Rush Pro 3.0 is the number one shoe from the Wilson Brand. This shoe is a masterpiece designed to keep the feet in its best shape while playing Tennis. And not just about the feet, you also get fair gameplay wearing this.
Pros
- Well-cushioned outsole and underfoot
- Provides excellent comfort and agility as well
- Good responsiveness
- Very durable
Cons
- Average breathability
Detailed description
The Rush Pro 3.0 provides great torsional control and support. What this means is that you don’t have to worry about your Plantar Fasciitis every time you need to make a turn. Then, your comfort is also guaranteed with this tennis wear. The underfoot is cushioned with compressed EVA foam combined with R-DST technology; in short, you most likely won’t get support better than this.
2.
ASICS Women's Gel-Dedicate 6 Tennis Shoes
The Asics Gel Delicate 6 is a sole-friendly tennis shoe with deliberate padding in areas supporting the feet. It comes with an underfoot cushioning made from standard EVA foam. This provides god cushioning for runners, mostly, so using this on a tennis court would definitely give you comfortability.
Pros
- It comes with padding all-round
- Outsole design provides excellent friction and rarely slips
- Heel support is excellent for players with Plantar Fasciitis
- The overall grip of the shoe is fantastic
Cons
- Available only sizes suitable for women players
- It is not durable enough for heavy use
Detailed description
For the outsole, you get good traction from the herringbone design. This is often great for hard court surfaces and provides good stability as needed for players with Plantar Fasciitis. The midsole comprises the arch region, which also comes with foam padding to keep your feet well positioned even as you move around the court.
3.
ASICS GEL-Resolution 8 Tennis Shoes
The Gel Resolution 8 is another excellent piece from Asics. This product comes from a line of shoes that are known for their great cushioning design. And the Gel Resolution 8 is the best among all the versions. The cushion is firm and stable and would serve as generous support for tennis players experiencing Plantar Fasciitis.
Pros
- The cushion is firm and holds plantar fascia in place
- Superb traction from outsole design
- Highly responsive owing to the sole design
- Excellent durability
Cons
- Low breathability
- Tight cushioning compromises some comfort
Detailed description
The midfoot and forefoot regions of this tennis shoe are more padded than previous versions. So, you need to be careful in picking a size when it comes to this shoe option. However, the stability the cushion provides would help keep your foot in shape during gameplay. The stability is supported by good traction and a comfy interior.
4.
ASICS Women's Court Speed FF Tennis Shoes
This is the final product on our list of best tennis shoes for Plantar Fasciitis. And it’s also our last from Asics. This shoe is also primarily designed for women, which means it comes in small sizes. The notable feature of the Women’s Court Speed FF is its flexibility, which is well combined with right cushion technology for better stability.
Pros
- Optimal and adaptive cushioning
- Excellent durability
- Great responsiveness
Cons
- Fairly expensive
- The firmness reduces breathability
Detailed description
The Asics Women’s Court Speed FF is designed with several technology designs from the makers. They used a seamless construction and non-marking AharPlus outsole material. And for the midsole, it is well cushioned using improved foam. In essence, the shoe would provide you with good support for your plantar fascia.
5.
Nike Vapor Cage 4 Tennis Shoes
This Tennis is made by the respected brand Nike, but the name is not what guarantees the quality. But instead, the design of the Vapor Cage 4 is one that supports the heel of the sole which makes it worthy of being on this list. The design of this shoe is specific to provide support and stability.
Pros
- Optimal and adaptive cushioning
- Excellent durability
- Great responsiveness
Cons
- Fairly expensive
- The firmness reduces breathability
Detailed description
It comes with Zoom Air technology on the forefoot – helps to keep you stable even on your toes. Then, there’s the adaptive cushioning around the edges of the shoe. All these work together for good lateral stability.
6.
Diadora Speed Blushield 4 AG Mens Tennis Shoe
Here is a tennis shoe comfortable enough for men with Plantar Fasciitis. The Diadora Speed Blushield 4 is designed for maximum protection of the feet. And the makers wanted to achieve this by making enough padding at places where necessary.
Pros
- The boot is light and easy to carry
- The cushion is provided all round
- Offers excellent stability owing to elevated arch
Cons
- The traction is poor, which may cause poor responsiveness.
Detailed description
The width of the shoe is wide enough to allow aeration, which is crucial for comfortability. Then, the outsole and midsole regions are on a raised level. One applaudable improvement to the Blushield 4 tennis shoe is the forefoot cushioning. So, even if you are bouncing while on the court, you feel less strain on your feet.
7.
New Balance Men's 1296v2 Stability Tennis Shoe
This tennis shoe from New Balance is the deal when it comes to stability. And it is just as you need it to protect or manage your feet from Plantar Fasciitis. The 1296 Version 2 is a significant upgrade on the previous versions of New Balance shoes with applaudable improvements, especially around the outsole region.
Pros
- Excellent stability from sole padding
- Good traction and responsiveness
- Adaptive cushioning
Cons
- Not very durable
Detailed description
With the New Balance 1296v2, you get good lateral support and stability. This is made possible with the padding done on the sole of the shoe. The shoe fits perfectly on the feet and is easy to carry around, giving you incredible responsiveness.
Conclusion
As a tennis player, there is every tendency that you would develop a sore foot if you are the type that plays regularly. So, as they say, one ounce spent on prevention is better than a pound spent on the cure. Nothing stops you from using a shoe designed to guard you against injuries like Plantar Fasciitis.
All the products we have listed here would make an excellent choice for a tennis shoe. But if you must choose the best, I recommend the Wilson Rush Pro 3.0 Tennis Shoes. The shoe’s stability and traction are almost impossible. You would feel very natural playing in them, plus your foot would always be guarded from Plantar Fasciitis.
