Whether it stems from long hours on your feet, athletic injury, or a chronic condition like plantar fasciitis or bunions, foot and ankle pain can be a daily struggle that begs for relief. And between drug store kiosks, online ads, and wellness influencers all promising quick solutions to pain, it’s hard to know which products really work.
Drs. Jessica Faught and Sarah Galli, fellowship-trained foot and ankle orthopedic surgeons in Oklahoma and Wisconsin, treat patients with a wide variety of foot and ankle issues and do recommend off-the-shelf products when appropriate. The key is knowing which product to use - and when. According to Dr. Galli, "Finding relief is about trying different tools and seeing what works for you.” She emphasizes that most importantly, your journey shouldn’t involve painful tools and urges caution if something new causes pain.
A closer look at foot and ankle favorites
Foot massagers
These come in a wide variety of styles and price points, from simple wood rollers that you use for manual massage of the sole of your foot to electric compression devices that encase your entire foot.
According to Dr. Faught, if a foot massager feels good, there is no downside to using it. “Manual foot massagers are good to use as part of first-line home therapy and exercise to treat plantar fasciitis. They may also help with swelling and soft tissue mobilization after surgery.”
Dr. Galli agrees that massagers can help provide relief from pain. She suggests using frozen water bottles as a quick and cost-effective tool for a self-administered foot massage.
Smart insoles and pressure-sensor insoles
These are wearable devices containing dozens of sensors that fit inside your shoe and provide feedback regarding pressure points, balance, and other metrics.
Dr. Faught said, “These can be a good starting point for anyone with minor foot and ankle problems like plantar fasciitis or flat feet. They can be used to identify problems and provide information for choosing an affordable, prefabricated orthotic insole.”
On the downside, Dr. Faught warns that those with more significant deformities, such as very high arches or very flat feet, may need more custom orthotics to find lasting relief, and that at times an insole with metatarsal pads may be helpful for pain on the ball of your foot, but those situations may not be identified by a smart insole alone.
Ankle compression sleeves
These are elasticized tubes that fit tightly from the sole of your foot to the lower calf to provide support for the ankle.
“A compression sleeve can be helpful for a mild ankle sprain because it provides warmth and compression to help with pain, said Dr. Faught. “It also helps by giving your brain ongoing feedback about your ankle to help keep you from rolling it again.”
She noted that more moderate to severe sprains are better protected by a lace-up ankle stabilizing orthosis ankle brace. “Those provide actual support for instability, where a compression sleeve does not.” In addition, compression sleeve should not be used for major swelling as the area will continue to swell above and below the sleeve. “For more severe swelling, a full compression sock would work better.”
Toe spreaders
These are silicone spacers that are placed between each toe to separate them and correct the toe alignment.
”These are less likely to be helpful,” said Dr. Faught. “They won’t cause problems, but they won’t fix problems either.” If you have a bunion or hammertoe, a single spacer can be used to provide temporary relief by straightening that specific toe. “It won’t fix the angular problem, but it may help the symptom.”
Dr. Galli agreed that toe spreaders won’t make a bunion or any other toe deformity go away, but uses it for other purposes. "I sometimes have patients that have trouble activating certain muscles in their feet that control their toes; sometimes doing ‘toe yoga’ exercises with the spacers on helps patients isolate those muscle groups.”
The next step for healthier feet and ankles
Dr. Faught advises those with ongoing foot and ankle issues to seek medical care. “An orthopedic specialist is able to examine the area and use diagnostic tools – like X-ray – to accurately identify the problem before directing you to the correct product to use.” This approach can save you time and money – as well as pain – in the long run.
Although many assume a podiatrist is the specialist to see for foot problems, a foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon typically offers a similar course of treatment. “We start with conservative management of conditions, with surgery only as the last step,” Dr. Faught said.
SSM Health’s full team of expert orthopedic providers are here to provide the best care for your unique condition or injury. Learn more about our Orthopedic services and request an appointment.
