I had a real problem with PF when we were living in a carpeted apartment in Tokyo, so I was really worried about what would happen when we moved to a house in France with all stone floors. But since arriving here, I have been generally diligent about wearing Birkenstock sandals and moccasins when indoors, and I am currently having no problems at all even if I do walk barefoot once in a while. Outdoors, I generally wear Keens sneakers, Birkenstocks or other shoes with a good arch.
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@Catcherinthetoast - any specific Hoka sneaker? Was looking to get one of these…
“Recovery sneaker”. Obviously not great for sports but perfect for walking to avoid inflammation. Hope they work for you.
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H has plantar fasciitis and swears by the Hoka Stinson ATR he has worn for years. Switches sometimes to others then goes right back to them. He gets a new one each season and walks around 10,000 steps a day.
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Just an FYI.
Hoka’s Stinson ATR is a hiking and running shoe. Hoka’s Recovery shoe is just that, a recovery shoe. One would use the recovery shoe to just hang around the house or post-workout. Different categories of shoe types.
Both may be comfortable and great for PF, in different ways, but you would not want to ever run or hike in a recovery shoe for many reasons, not the least of which that there’s only one lace. They would fall off your feet when running.
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I have the Hoka recovery shoe and for PF, I definitely prefer a firmer sole. Personally I don’t find it supportive enough.
I bought insoles from Superfeet for PF and they’ve helped quite a bit.
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I came down with PF (second time in 10 years but other foot this time) in December 2022. The only thing that worked for me was wearing Birkenstocks - I had open and closed toe versions as well as the Birk sneakers. I used a night splint to keep my foot in flexion, this seemed to do nothing to help. Got acupuncture treatments twice a week last spring, learned some exercises and got massaged at PT, stretched a ton on my own including regular yoga, and took Aleve on heavy walking days on my trips to France and Italy last summer. Always wore the Birkenstock sandals, from waking up until bedtime, except of course when bathing. Saw marked improvement after 10 months and now, 13 months after onset, am almost completely healed and can finally go barefoot around my house on the hardwood floors, although I still wear my Birk clogs with socks indoors. When on longer walks, I would wear Hokas. I have a couple pairs, one more suitable for walking and the other pair for hiking. Both these brands have served me very well and I’ll keep wearing them even though my PF is 95% healed. Long story short, PF takes a long time to heal!
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I only had the mild start of PF, but based on stories like seen above it seemed important to address it. I did many minor things to address it, can’t if any one of them was the real cure. I still do circle my ankles in the morning and do stretching.
Funny to read so much mention of Hokas. Just last week a buddy of ours said his feet were hurting. Dick’s didn’t have Hokas for him, so he went to our last local shoe store and was delighted with the Hokas they helped him select. He admits that part of his problem might have been wearing the wrong size. He sized up to get arch in the right place.
It saddens me that so many people have PF and living with it. Shoes with shock absorption is only one thing to change your environment. Being a Podiatric Surgeon for 34 years (did I really just say that? 
), getting it under control is not that hard. But yes changing surfaces (what your shoe is doing) to one with better absorption helps.
Hoka is used now due to marketing. Plan and simple. But if it works then great. The shoe companies like Dicks etc have incentives to sell certain shoes. Try on many. Compare the Hoka to the Asics Nimbus or Kayno as an example. They shouldn’t be bringing out just one shoe company. You won’t know if you don’t try on several. Stretch from the hip down. Your post calf could be tight and a direct cause to heel pain.
I don’t inject steroid /cortisone into the heel PF tissues it it’s very rare. PF is a tissue injury simply put. You can weaken it with the injection. It needs to be treated as an injury or most don’t get better.
To make it more fun if you have it longer then 6 months the connection of the tissue to the heel gets scared in - plantar Fasciosis. This is a more chronic condition and steroid injections don’t help. So yes, once you get up in the morning and you have heel pain and stretching, anti-inflammatory meds, icing doesn’t help, go see a Podiatrist in your area but… Injections or oral steroids (medro dose pack) should never be a first line treatment. My practice is mostly sports med injury and my patients are able to return and do just about anything I have PF since 1982. I have to wear shoes like running shoes with my orthotics in my house since we have all hard surfaces. But I can do whatever activity without any pain. Everyone’s body type and foot type are different. Hoka can be fine but their not for everyone. Wear what feels comfortable. Don’t buy into hype.
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Many patients use https://www.kurufootwear.com/collections/womens-shoes-plantar-fasciitis
Lots of my female patients like this shoe-Kuru
Brooks glycerin.
Altra. I used to run in Altra Escalante. Very cushioned ride. But think REI carries some of their models.Altra Running Shoes with FootShape™ Comfort
Just a few to check out
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Thanks for the detailed info and for the shoe links.
I really don’t mind splurging on shoes that will give good support. But I do fret over splurging and then not being happy with them. Over the years I’ve had successful styles of SAS shoe styles for work and Saucony Omni shoes for running that I bought over and over.
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Roadrunner sports allows a 90 trial period with returns allowed after you’ve worn them if you belong to their customer program.
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Many if not all of these companies have free returns… Once a patient loves a shoe I tell them to buy a few. Lol. Asics does have outlets and sometimes you can get like 50%off or 2/1 deals etc.
Yikes. Don’t do this on the pf. Great for dances on their calves or trigger points. I have seen PTs rupture /tear the pf with dry needling. Many are just being trained on it. Ask questions…
Exercises provided to me by my physical therapist:
Plantar Fascia Accessory:
1 round
20 Arch lifts -
12-15 Eccentric heel raise -
ure=share
20 Toe dissociation -
Interesting. I had dry needling done 3 or 4 times for PF. Each was a few weeks apart. Really enjoyed the experiences and the immediate relief. (My PT referred to it as “cold needling”.) My PF was severe. It has been over a year since my last treatment & I am fine.
That’s awesome. Guess I only get reffered the bad results then