Your feet take you everywhere.
But when pain strikes, every step becomes a reminder that something's not right.
Whether you're dealing with the sharp sting of plantar fasciitis or the nagging ache of Achilles tendonitis, finding the right solution can feel overwhelming. That's why we sat down with two of Canada's leading orthotists, Casey Bjorgum and Beatrice Yeh from Lifemark Health Group's Richmond branch, to break down the most common foot and ankle injuries plaguing athletes and active individuals.
Casey and Bea have a vast experience working with professional teams, including the Canucks, Whitecaps, and BC Lions, and they're here to share their game-changing insights on how the right footwear can be the difference between pain and performance.
While they have successfully matched patients with footwear from numerous brands, they consistently turn to Brooks as their go-to therapeutic running shoe company. With Brooks' constantly evolving lineup, the duo has specific shoe recommendations for each of the four common conditions we're covering:
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- Plantar fasciitis
- Metatarsalgia
- Achilles tendonitis
- Patellofemoral pain syndrome
Watch below to discover their targeted solutions for these challenging foot and ankle issues.
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis presents itself as heel pain or pain in the arch of your foot and can be extremely uncomfortable with each step you take. The most effective way to alleviate plantar fasciitis is by molding an orthotic to fit your foot, providing additional support. Because of this, the best shoes for those suffering from plantar fasciitis are those that accommodate orthotics well, and Casey and Bea recommend a few.
The Ghost Max is the first shoe they default to because of its stable base (wide midsole) and its torsional rigidity. It also has a rockered design, which de-stresses the foot very effectively, but it’s not too intense to the point where you lose stability. Finally, its deep heel leaves plenty of room for larger orthotics to fit inside.
For patients who feel more balanced and stable in a shoe without too much rocker, Casey and Bea recommend the Glycerin GTS. Otherwise, it has similar features to the Ghost Max: a wide midfoot for stability and the same deep heel design.
The Glycerin GTS also has Brooks’ GuideRail system in the heel, which provides additional support and control for severe overpronators. We do recommend confirming with your orthotist that you need both the GTS system and an orthotic, because the two can sometimes lead to overcorrection.
The Ghost and standard Glycerin are great options, as well. The Glycerin is a little bit softer and taller, but both are neutral runners, so they provide a good blank canvas for the orthotic to work.
Metatarsalgia
Metatarsalgia is a catch-all term that refers to pain along the metatarsals or the ball of your foot, and common conditions of metatarsalgia are bunions and neuromas. Both of these create added pressure and can often cause a lot of pain in your joints, whether they are on the top of your foot or on the bottom.
Casey and Bea recommend shoes with a wide forefoot to alleviate that extra pressure, and Brooks offers most of their shoes in a variety of widths.
The Ghost Max is, again, a favourite of theirs because of its rockered profile, which—along with the wide forefoot—alleviates pressure along the bottom of your foot.
For neuromas, they consider orthotics paramount to treatment, so they recommend shoes that accommodate orthotics. They prefer totally neutral shoes like the Ghost Max, Ghost, and Glycerin because they will not overcorrect the work that the orthotic is already doing.
Brooks Ghost Max 2 Running
women's
Achilles Tendonitis
Achilles tendonitis usually causes pain around the lower Achilles near the calcaneus. Swelling can often occur, and pressing around the area will make it feel very tender. Casey and Bea recommend finding a shoe with a stiff heel counter that can effectively hold your heel in place so that instability won’t further aggravate the tendon.
The most important characteristic for footwear in alleviating Achilles tendonitis, though, is a higher heel-to-toe drop. This raises your heel relative to your forefoot, effectively providing a wedge for your Achilles to relax a little bit more.
The Adrenaline GTS (12 mm), Ghost (10 mm), and Glycerin GTS (10 mm) have higher drops, so they are ideal shoes to try. The GTS system in the Adrenaline and Glycerin is particularly optimal for Achilles tendonitis because the GuideRails secure the heel into the shoe better than most other heel counters.
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Patellofemoral pain refers to pain around the kneecap, especially when it starts to shift from side to side and irritate the femur. This motion is often caused by excess instability either in the hips or in the feet, so stabilizing your feet is an extremely important place to start.
Again, Casey and Bea recommend shoes with a firm heel counter to control any excess motion in your heel, and an orthotic to stabilize the bottom of your foot. The Ghost, Glycerin GTS, and Adrenaline GTS are, again, their go-to.
We understand that foot problems can be a real pain, but there are always resources to help you along the way.
Solutions are available, whether through an orthotist or sports medicine professional, purchasing proper footwear at specialty stores like Rackets & Runners, or combining both approaches.