How Good are Crocs for Plantar Fasciitis Pain Relief?
Crocs’ famous foam clogs are everywhere! Whether or not you like the style, I’ve never met anyone denying the comfort they bring. When you suffer from plantar fasciitis like I do, foot comfort is essential. But it’s not all. To effectively relieve plantar pain, shoes need to provide good arch support, a rigid sole, gentle cushioning, and strong shock absorption. So, are Crocs good for plantar fasciitis? Are Crocs really capable of easing plantar foot pain? Let’s find out!
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Crocs for Plantar Fasciitis: Pros and Cons
Crocs have always been controversial. You either worship them or despise them. There’s no in-between. Now, those of us suffering from chronic plantar foot pain know there’s a point where you just don’t care about the controversy anymore. All you want is your feet to stop hurting. Beyond all hope, many people, me included, have simply found relief in Crocs clogs. Let‘s delve further into the topic and balance the pros and cons of wearing Crocs when you have plantar fasciitis.
What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar Fasciitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia. It’s the ligament that runs at the bottom of the foot, connecting the heel to the forefoot. The plantar fascia supports the arch of the foot and helps absorbing shocks when we walk.
Plantar Fasciitis happens when this ligament gets torn, irritated, or inflamed. Causes are numerous. It can be due to inadequate footwear, stress on the foot, improper foot placement, standing up all day long, excessive exercise, etc. Podiatrists have also identified several risk factors. People who suffer from obesity or diabetes, and people over 40 are more at risk of developing plantar fasciitis.
The main symptom is stabbing pain, generally near the heel. There are not many known complications, but the pain can become unbearable to some.
How to treat Plantar Fasciitis?
There are many steps you can take to try and alleviate plantar fasciitis pain. You can do most of them at home. Resting is probably the first one. Stretching and strengthening your feet is also known to work well. Applying cold ice does temporarily reduce the pain too. Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial. It reduces stress on the foot and relieves pressure on the plantar fascia tissue.
The most effective treatment against chronic plantar fasciitis foot pain is a supportive footwear. Wearing adequate shoes or orthotics with enhanced arch support and cushioning reduces plantar fasciitis foot pain in more than 80% of the cases. In some rare extreme cases, your podiatrists might recommend more potent treatments such as night splints, steroid injections, shock wave therapy, ultrasonic tissue repair, or even surgery.
Crocs' Benefits for Plantar Fasciitis
Clogs were originally created for field and mine workers who spent hours on their feet and suffered plantar pain. They’re designed to reinforce the foot’s arch, provide enhanced cushioning, and keep the feet aligned. Very supportive and comfortable, they’re often recommended to people suffering plantar foot pain.
Good Arch Support
Good arch support is essential if you live with chronic plantar fasciitis pain. Most plantar fasciitis cases actually come from unsupportive footwear. Our feet are shaped with arch because the human species was to walk barefoot on natural soft terrains. Now that our civilisation lives on hard surfaces and wear shoes, we need orthopedic compensations. Footwear with adequate arch support is fundamental, and even more so if you suffer from plantar fasciitis. In that matter, Crocs are a great choice as they do provide enhanced arch support.
Thick Rigid Sole
People with plantar fasciitis need rigidity in the sole of their shoes. Your sole should not twist nor bend while you walk. We often wrongly think the more cushioned, the better, but cushioning without support is worth than no cushioning. It causes stress, fatigue, and pain on the feet and legs. Crocs’ clogs have very thick and rigid soles, as well as great footbed cushioning. It’s a good combination for people with plantar foot pain.
Reinforced Heels
To minimize excessive stretching of your plantar fascia ligament, your footwear must have reinforced heels. It allows your ligament to rest and not be torn too much while providing better shock absorption on the painful heel area. Some Crocs models such as the Neria Pro offer a much more reinforced heel than the Classic Crocs, and would be even better for people with plantar fasciitis.
Footbed Cushioning
Cushioning on the midfoot softens impacts and protects the feet. Crocs clogs and shoes all have extra cushioning on the footbed. The best choice for that purpose is the Crocs that come with the LiteRide next-generation insoles. You’ll enjoy deeply cushioned footbeds and incredibly soft foam-cushioned insoles.
Shock Absorbing Material
To limit stress on your feet and preserve your plantar fascia ligament, your shoes must absorbs as much impacts as possible. Crocs’ clogs now all come with the CrosLite outsole made from a foam resin with high shock absorption capacities.
What I (and other customers) say:
I personally have chronic plantar fasciitis pain, and I do suffer a lot less when I’m wearing my Crocs. Here’s what other customers with Plantar Fasciitis have reported too. All customers reviews quoted here are from Amazon verified costumers.
Insoles and Orthotics
For Plantar Fasciitis, Diabetes and Neuropathy
Crocs' Limits for Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is not known to cause severe complications, yet it has to be taken seriously. The pain can increase and become torturous. Crocs are good for what they’re meant to be: comfort shoes to ramble around. They do work on plantar fasciitis pain, but they could lead to other foot problems if worn excessively or inappropriately,
Crocs are not meant for walking long hours
Crocs are the perfect footwear in situations you might otherwise go barefoot (bathroom, beach, around the house, etc.). They’re great for standing up on your feet for long hours and have proven to reduce plantar fasciitis pain. But they’re not made for extensive walks.They lack rearfoot control and don’t hold the back of your foot enough. This tend to make us try to grab the shoe with our toes at every step, and it can cause tendonitis, hammertoes, or nail problems in the long run.
Podiatrists opinions are mitigated
I’ve read dozens of podiatrists’ opinions on Crocs for plantar fasciitis and have interrogated my collaborators. They either strongly recommend them or firmly rule them out! The majority of foot professionals recognize that Crocs have health benefits for plantar foot pain, notably their good arch support and cushioning. But a small group of them ban these shoes and think they can do more harm than good.
What I can advice though is that Crocs are definitely worth the try… They might not work for everyone, but they have for so many!
Crocs are not orthopedic shoes
Crocs are not orthopedic shoes and don’t claim to be. The clogs are mass-produced and made to fit most feet. If you have severe foot problems or deformities, Crocs won’t do as good as authentic orthopedic shoes. People suffering extreme cases of plantar fasciitis pain might need medical treatments such as night splints, shock therapy, or even surgery sometimes. In any case, always ask for your doctor or podiatrist’s advice.
Best Crocs for Plantar Fasciitis - Review 2021
Not all clogs and Crocs are created equal. If you suffer from plantar fasciitis pain, do not stop at the Classic Crocs only. Some models offer more protective and pain-relief features. Here are the best Crocs Clogs for plantar fasciitis foot pain relief:
Best Women's Crocs Clogs for Plantar Fasciitis: Neria Pro II LiteRide™
The new Neria Pro LiteRide Crocs for women have the best features to ease foot pain due to plantar fasciitis. The arch support is enhanced so your plantar ligament won’t be torn. The outsole is thick and rigid, and the heel is more reinforced compared to other models. The interior footbeds are deeply cushioned and incredibly soft. They come with the next-generation LiteRide foam insoles that are removable. If you need extra arch support or different insoles, you can replace them with your own orthotics.
These clogs are part of the “Crocs at work” series, specially crafted for workers that stand on their feet all day. Customers mostly report a positive impact on plantar foot pain. The only downside is that Neria Pro LiteRide are only available in black for now.
Best Men's Crocs Clogs for Plantar Fasciitis: Bistro Pro LiteRide™
Bistro Pro LiteRide Crocs are also part of the “Crocs at work” series and are meant to be worn by people who suffer from plantar foot pain due to spending long hours on their feet. Their contoured cushioned footbeds, along with good arch supports, bring relief to foot pain. The foam LiteRide removable insoles are included and can be replaced by your own orthotics. However, they should be enough to ease most plantar fasciitis cases. The outsole is thick and has slip-resistant treads to secure your steps on slippery floors. The bottom of the heel is reinforced. It limits impacts on this sensitive part of the foot and prevents the plantar ligament from tearing too much. It’s a great choice. Bistro Pro LiteRide clogs are available in different colors.
Are Crocs flip-flops good for plantar fasciitis?
Flip-flops are not recommended if you suffer from plantar fasciitis pain. The flat design of this type of shoe offers no arch support. The plantar fascia ligament is not protected and is subjected to too much stress, which would just aggravate your condition.
However, new technologies in shoe materials and design have made available flip-flop models that now do help alleviate plantar pain. Crocs offer more than 20 models of flip-flops for men and women. The most suitable in the case of plantar fasciitis pain would be the Baya Flip available both for men and for women.
But if you have chronic pain, you might need more supportive flip-flops. In which case I’d recommend you have look a Vionic shoes. The company specialises in arch support footwear and offers great sandals and flip-flop choices.
Do crocs cause plantar fasciitis?
Crocs have not been proven to cause plantar fasciitis. On the contrary, their enhanced arch support and extra cushioning have shown to alleviate plantar pain. Many podiatrists recommend their patients to wear Crocs.
That being said, Crocs are no perfect shoes. They do relieve plantar pain, but they’re not meant to be walking shoes. People wearing Crocs all day long and walking long distances with them can end up with tendonitis, hammertoes or nail problems. It’s because clogs have little rearfoot control, and we tend to grab the shoe with our toes to prevent it from slipping. Don’t walk long distances with your Crocs!
Crocs Vs. Birkenstocks for plantar fasciitis?
Birkenstocks Arizona sandals also offer valuable features to ease plantar foot pain. Their 1-inch reinforced heel stabilizes the foot and reduces pressure on the plantar fascia. Their footbeds are well contoured and provide good arch support. The heel is better held than with Crocs, with makes them more suitable for walking. People report significant pain relief effects on plantar fasciitis foot pain. They do come at a much higher price than Crocs, though.
Are Crocs good for diabetics?
Although the relationship is not clear, people with diabetes often suffer from plantar fasciitis. People with type 1 or type 2 diabetes need to wear very protective footwear in order to prevent foot problems. Crocs can be a good choice for diabetics too, but not all models. Check out here which Crocs are best for diabetics!
Share your thoughts!
If you have plantar fasciitis and have tried Crocs, whether for good or bad, we want to hear your thoughts! Share your experiences and bits of advice with others. Leave us a comment!