What do you look for in an ordinary house slipper? Warm and fuzzy is good. Cute patterns are nice, especially the ones with, say, a dog’s head embroidered on the left, its body on the right. You can rock all the style you want on your feet this coming winter, but if you’ve got plantar fasciitis, try not to get swayed by the promise of plushness alone.

People who suffer from heel pain know that they need to spend the day wearing a shoe with good arch support. Keep up the good work at the end of the day, too. Replace your shoes with supportive slippers. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind:

1. Don’t go without them. Socks alone don’t offer the support you need. Furthermore, walking barefoot is one of the worst things you can do when you’ve got plantar fasciitis, say expert podiatrists Chanda L. Day-Houts, DPM and Heidi M. Christie, DPM. This is especially true if you’ve got hardwood or ceramic tile floors.
2. Make sure slippers offer excellent support. Look beyond superficial appearance. Slippers that promise to be “soft” and “cozy” may not offer enough support. Instead, look for descriptions such as “built-in arch support” or even “APMA seal of approval” (meaning they are recommended by the American Podiatric Medical Association).
3. Expect more firmness than usual.
   Slippers designed to help with plantar fasciitis may not feel as cushiony as you’re used to. But if your foot sinks into a soft slipper bed, it’s probably not going to help repair your irritated plantar fascia.
4. Get slippers with a hard sole.
   The firmness that you feel in the bed of the slipper should also extend to a solid, non-slip sole.

Plantar fasciitis can be tough to conquer. We advise our patients here at Montgomery Foot Care Specialists to treat heel pain with a multi-faceted approach. That includes wearing supportive footwear indoors and out. If relief from stubborn plantar fasciitis pain seems to be slipping out of your reach, we can help. Call us in Montgomery, Alabama at (334) 396-3668 or make an appointment online.