The Best New Balance Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis – Keep Your Kids’ Feet and Legs Healthy!

Has your child been complaining about heel pain and your pediatrician or physical therapist diagnosed your child with Plantar Fasciitis? Maybe your medical professional recommended that your child wears a pair of supportive New Balance shoes to help prevent heel pain, but didn’t specify which models to get. I am going to show you which specific New Balance shoes provide better support for children with heel pain based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.

Can Shoes Help Relieve Pain From Plantar Fasciitis?

Shoes with firm heel counters that provide extra cushion and padding right below the heels can be extremely effective in preventing Plantar Fasciitis. Children with Plantar fasciitis feel a stabbing pain in their feet. This pain is usually worst in the morning, but it tends to persist throughout the day and may also arise when your child participates in high-impact activities.

Let’s keep in mind that the condition may merely be the result of wearing shoes that don’t offer enough support for your kids’ feet. Any pediatrician, physical therapist, or shoe fitter will tell you that choosing the right type of shoes is critical if your child suffers from Plantar Fasciitis, or any other type of foot pain.

What Makes New Balance Shoes Effective for Plantar Fasciitis?

1️⃣ Firm Heel Counters: This feature is going to help reduce or fully eliminate the heel pain that your child is experiencing. The heel counter of your kids’ shoes must always feel firm. Below you can see the difference between a shoe with a soft heel counter (Nike) and a shoe with a firm heel counter (New Balance).

2️⃣ Targeted Heel Support: The other key feature that the shoes I recommend provide is targeted cushion and support right below your child’s heels. Do you notice how the New Balance shoe on the right has extra cushion and padding below the heels?

3️⃣ Supportive Outsoles: The shoes I recommended also provide a substantial outsole, which helps minimize the impact that the child’s heels take when they come in contact with the ground:

The Importance of Fitting Your Child in the Correct Pair of Shoes

I have noticed throughout the years how most kids’ foot pain is directly associated with the shoes that they wear and how they fit. Parents tend to worry a lot when they hear that their children are experiencing foot pain, but the good news is that something so simple as providing your child with the correct pair of shoes can significantly reduce or fully eliminate the pain.

The best way to treat and cure Plantar Fasciitis is by wearing the correct type of footwear. Some shoe companies make footwear that helps treat and prevent this condition and one of the most popular ones is New Balance. Wearing the proper shoes can make a world of difference when it comes to healing your kids’ Plantar Fasciitis.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best New Balance shoes for Plantar Fasciitis. Disclosure: Some links in this post may be affiliate links and we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you click our links and make purchases.

Best New Balance Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis – Supportive and Durable

The shoes below can fit children with medium (M), wide (W), or extra wide (XW) feet.  

Most of the shoes I recommend come with shoelaces instead of velcro closure. Sneakers that come with shoelaces provide better support and stability than shoes that come with velcro closure. I actually suggest that you apply a specific shoe lacing technique that works really well for children who suffer from heel pain.

What Shoe Size Should You Order?

In each of the descriptions of the shoes, I indicate whether you need to order a half size or a whole size bigger than your child’s current foot size to provide the correct amount of growing room.

If possible, get your kid’s feet fitted by a person knowledgeable in specific foot conditions. Make sure they size their feet correctly, given that shoes that are too short or too long will squeeze their feet or allow for the foot to move too much inside the shoe and will further irritate the plantar fascia.

How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape

I created a virtual shoe fitting service that will help you retrieve your child’s shoe size from home. In that article I help parents determine their child’s exact foot size and whether the child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet. I also will be able to tell you whether your child has a high instep or not.

Additional Choices for Shoes?

If you are unsure about which specific New Balance shoe might work best for your child’s heel pain don’t hesitate to contact me.

If you try a pair of the supportive New Balance shoes I recommend but your child’s heel pain persists, then your child might need a pair of heel cups or orthotics fitted inside the shoes. However, it all starts with wearing the correct type of shoes. Heel cups are extremely efficient in reducing or eliminating heel pain, and they are the most cost-effective alternative to orthotics.

Heel Cups for Kids with Plantar Fasciitis – Let’s Find Extra Support!

The heel cups that I recommend offer superior shock absorption, protect the heel, and prevent foot fatigue. In addition to being one of the most advanced shock-absorbing heel cups available today, they offer relief from Sever’s Disease while protecting the heel from high impact.

This heel cup acts as a shock absorber for your children’s feet. I have fitted this heel cup in several different children’s shoes, and in most cases, the pain was significantly reduced or eliminated.

Additional Resources for Children with Heel Pain

If you need a pair of summer or sports shoes for your child who is experiencing heel pain, you can refer to the articles on the best sandals and soccer shoes.

Wearing non-supportive footwear or going barefoot is not advisable for kids who suffer from Plantar Fasciitis as it will cause them to put more strain and cause more inflammation of the plantar fascia.