Plantar fasciitis refers to a medical condition in which plantar fascia, a thick band of connective tissue joining the heel bone (the calcaneus, the largest bone of the foot) to the toe, gets inflamed or damaged. This fascia forms the foundation of the heel, which acts as the supporting shock absorber for the foot’s arch.
Compression socks can help with plantar fasciitis by providing targeted support that reduces swelling and improves blood circulation, which aids in faster recovery and pain relief. They prevent blood pooling (venous stasis), reduce swelling (edema), and offer extra support to the heels and toes.
By addressing these factors, compression socks can significantly aid in the healing process for plantar fasciitis. In this article, we will explore how compression socks contribute to pain relief and recovery in greater detail. Let’s dive into the specifics!
Do Compression Socks Help with Plantar Fasciitis?
Compression socks are specialized pressure-generating socks that are tailored to exert gentle pressure throughout the legs, aiding certain medical foot conditions. Plantar fasciitis is a condition that can significantly benefit from compression socks.
But what is plantar fasciitis?
Source：https://www.fasciitis.com/blog/the-consequences-of-leaving-plantar-fasciitis-untreated/
Plantar fasciitis is a medical condition involving inflammation of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a thick band of connective tissue that connects the heel to the toes and supports the arch of the foot.
It can occur due to multiple reasons, which include overstretching or overuse of the feet, wearing improper and painful footwear, having improper foot mechanics like flat feet, high arches, or abnormal gait, or other factors like age, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, or pregnancy. All these factors cause the wear and tear of the plantar fascia, causing pain, discomfort, and inflammation.
However, compression socks for plantar fasciitis work by enhancing several key aspects, which include improving blood circulation, reducing discomfort and swelling, providing extra support to the arch of the foot, and preventing risks of further injuries or microtears on the plantar fascia.
So, let’s uncover the different mechanisms by which compression socks help aid plantar fasciitis.
How Do Compression Socks Help with Plantar Fasciitis?
Compression socks keep the plantar fascia stretched and help relieve pain and discomfort through several different mechanisms, which we will explain below:
Enhancing Blood Circulation
Compression socks are tailored to exert gentle pressure throughout the legs, the highest pressure at the ankle, which reduces as the compression socks course up to the knees. So, this pressure graduation property is the perfect explanation for forcing the blood from the legs up to the heart. Thus, compression socks help to improve blood flow by forcing pressure on the blood vessels of the legs.
Source: https://www.pebbleuk.com/article/130/do-compression-socks-work/
How Does It Help Plantar Fasciitis?
Enhanced blood circulation within the legs is directly linked to the influence of oxygenation and nutrient delivery to the plantar fascia in the legs.
Thus, better oxygenation and nutrient-rich delivery to the plantar fascia play a significant role in aiding inflammation caused by plantar fasciitis. Subsequently, it also leads to a speedy recovery and provides pain relief.
Reducing Pedal Swelling and Edema
Compression socks also help in reducing pedal swelling and edema. Again, the explanation lies behind the pressure-generating property of the compression socks, which helps to prevent fluid retention from causing edema.
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How Does It Help Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is known to cause swelling of the legs due to inflammation of the tissues. Since compression socks are recognized for preventing fluid buildup and swelling of the feet, less swelling in the affected area will help relieve discomfort and pain due to plantar fasciitis.
Improving Foot Alignment
Compression socks help to maintain the foot alignment through additional support to the heel and arch of the foot.
Source：https://www.balletdancersguide.com/ballet-pointe-shoes-foot-alignment.html
How Does It Help Plantar Fasciitis?
Improving foot alignment can help to prevent excessive stress on the plantar fascia. Therefore, it can help reduce discomfort and overall foot pain.
Preventing Microtears
Compression socks with a snug fit are an effective way to prevent microtears. They act like a protective brace for the heels and help prevent further stretching of the plantar fascia.
Source: https://www.runnersedgemt.com/2018/treat-your-feet-to-reduce-spring-injury-risk/
How Does It Help Plantar Fasciitis?
Aggravation of tearing of the plantar fascia can result in severe pain. Therefore, preventing the risks of further microtears and stretching of the plantar fascia can help relieve the pain.
Enhancing Restorative Foot Healing During Bedtime
Compression socks for plantar fasciitis offer a comfortable stretch to the heels during the night, thus helping to prevent the plantar fascia from stretching excessively overnight.
How Does It Help Plantar Fasciitis?
Some compression socks for plantar fasciitis are ideal for overnight wear, as they promote the recovery of the foot while you sleep.
Preventing Blood Pooling and Venous Stasis
Compression socks prevent blood pooling and venous stasis within the legs.
Source：https://messnervascular.com/chronic-venous-disease/
How Does It Help Plantar Fasciitis?
This property of compression socks helps faster recovery and accelerates the healing process by preventing blood pooling.
What Are The Features Of Best Compression Socks For Plantar Fasciitis?
When looking for perfect pairs of compression socks for plantar fasciitis, remember to observe the following features in them:
- Graduated compression is provided, enhancing circulation.
- It should provide mild to moderate compression, ranging from 15 to 20 mmHg of pressure.
- Enhanced support for the foot arch and heel is included to stabilize these critical areas.
- It should have extra cushioning to support the heels, arches, and achilles tendon.
- Extra padding for reinforcement.
- The material should be breathable and moisture-wicking fabric.
- It should fit snugly but not be excessively tight.
- There should be ease of use with effective durability.
How Long Should You Wear Compression Socks For Plantar Fasciitis?
For plantar fasciitis, doctors usually recommend wearing compression socks for around 8 to 12 hours of the day and specialized bedtime compression socks to wear during sleeping hours.
However, these schedules can vary with individuals based on the severity of the plantar fasciitis or heel pain. So, it is always best to consult your healthcare advisor for the best results!
Source：https://www.gohealthcarellc.com/blog/the-us-healthcare-consulting-services-market-a-comprehensive-guide-for-the-modern-healthcare-professional
FAQs
1) Why are compression socks good for plantar fasciitis?
Compression stockings are good for plantar fasciitis in several ways. They help to improve blood circulation, prevent blood pooling, improve venous return, and reduce swelling from the feet, which help to relieve pain and discomfort due to plantar fasciitis.
2) Can I sleep in plantar fasciitis compression socks?
Yes! You can sleep in plantar fasciitis compression socks, but ensure they fit snugly and aren’t overly tight. It’s best to consult your doctor to determine if you should wear them while sleeping.
Source:https://www.verywellhealth.com/top-health-benefits-of-a-good-nights-sleep-2223766
3) How long should I wear compression socks for plantar fasciitis?
You should wear compression socks for around 8-12 hours of the day.
4) When should I wear compression socks for plantar fasciitis?
You should wear compression socks for plantar fasciitis during activities like walking, running, exercising, or after prolonged standing to avoid stretching in the fascia.
You can also wear them at any time of the day whenever you feel any pain or discomfort in the affected region.
5) Will the compression socks be worn comfortably in your shoes?
Yes, compression socks are designed to fit snugly and comfortably, which makes them suitable for wear inside most types of footwear.
7) What is commonly mistaken for plantar fasciitis?
Conditions commonly mistaken for plantar fasciitis include Achilles tendinitis, heel spurs, bursitis, metatarsalgia, stress fractures, and tarsal tunnel syndrome.
To Sum Up
Plantar fasciitis refers to inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick band of connective tissue joining the heel to the toe.
However, compression socks for plantar fascia are a great relief to aid the pain and discomfort caused by the plantar fasciitis. It is achieved through several mechanisms, which include improvement in blood circulation, enhancement of venous return, prevention of blood pooling and stasis within the legs, and reduction of swelling and fluid retention in the feet. All these mechanisms play a significant role in relieving foot sores and discomfort caused by plantar fasciitis.
Not only this, but compression works to reinforce the heel and arch of the foot, maintaining perfect foot alignment and providing extra support to the heels.
However, it is always best to consult your healthcare professional before opting for any interventions.
We hope this information has provided valuable insights into the benefits of compression socks for managing plantar fasciitis. Wishing you a journey toward relief and well-being!
