Plantar Fasciitis is a painful condition of the foot. It is typified by having pain in your heel when you first get out of bed in the morning. There are many treatmentss for plantar fasciitis including orthotics, night splints, injections and Motrin. One of the easiest treatments to perform is to adjust your shoe gear. Basketball, with the running and jumping puts a great deal of stress on the plantar fascia causing plantar fasciitis to be a common injury sustained by basketball players. A quality shoe when you are playing basketball can go a long way toward helping your plantar fasciitis subside and being able to play with plantar fasciitis.
What are you looking for in a basketball shoe for plantar fasciitis? What you want in a shoe, is a shoe with extra padding in the heel to help reduce the force and stress exerienced by the heel during the sport of basketball. You also want a shoe that is stabile across the midsole region to give constant support to the plantar fascia. Below I have listed some examples of what I believe to be the best basketball shoes for players with plantar fasciitis:
New Balance BB89 Performance Basketball Shoe– New Balance may not be the flashiest sneaker around but they specialize in function. This sneaker provides supportive cushioning, with extra padding in the heel. New Balance sneakers are known for put function over style. This shoe features an EVA midsole which is similar to material used in orthotics. It molds to the contour of the foot and provides arch support and shock absorption.
Nike Hyperfuse TB Basketball Shoes– I rarely like Nike shoes, but this shoe stands out for its phylon midsole construction which provides lightweight support to the plantar fascia, as well as cushioning. Also, this shoe provides a great deal of midsole stability. One of the issues with plantar fasciitis is poor midsole stability in sneakers that can cause more strain on the plantar fasciitis.
Fila Men’s 96 Basketball Shoe– This shoe features a midsole ethilene vinyl acetate for cushioning, combined with an upper padded heel cushion. Again, EVA is the same material that I referenced in the New Balance sneaker. EVA is the same material used in many orthotics. Anytime you have plantar fasciitis one of your goals should be to get a sneaker with an EVA footbed or insole.
Athletic Propulsion Lab Concept 3 Basketball Shoe– If you are down to your wit’s end consider giving this basketball shoe a chance for plantar fasciitis. This shoe is a little pricey but has a very developed insole to provide increase comfort and reduced stress on the heel.
Nike Air Visi– When you have plantar fasciitis, the Nike Air sneaker line is an effective way to treat the plantar fasciitis. The Air helps to diffuse the stress on the heel. The Air is one of the more effective ways to decrease stress on the plantar fascia, which is a cause of plantar fasciitis.