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Quick answer: If your heel pain has lasted a few weeks, a drugstore insole such as Dr. Scholl’s and a firmer arch insole such as Powerstep Pulse Maxx are both reasonable low-cost things to try, but the best trial we found showed that prefabricated and custom insoles improved function by about eight points on a 100-point scale at three months, and that difference was gone at twelve months. A 2023 guideline summary states that insoles should not be the only short-term treatment (summary of the guideline), and that stretching has the strongest support. So the insole is an add-on to stretching and sensible shoes. Which of the two to pick depends on your foot, your shoes and how much arch support feels right.
Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain in later life, and the insole aisle is crowded. Two names come up again and again: Dr. Scholl’s, sold in nearly every pharmacy, and Powerstep, a podiatry-oriented brand. We compare published specifications and independent sources; we did not test these products ourselves. For background on the condition itself, start with our guide to plantar fasciitis after 50.
What the trials say about insoles for plantar fasciitis
The main trial. Landorf and colleagues randomised 135 people with plantar fasciitis to a firm prefabricated insole, a rigid custom insole or a soft sham insole. All three groups improved on pain with no difference between sham and real insoles. On function, the prefabricated and custom insoles beat sham by 8.4 and 7.5 points on a 100-point scale at three months, and by twelve months no difference remained (PEDro record of the trial). The summary in American Family Physician concluded that any functional benefit was small and short-lived, and that about a quarter of participants had also received other treatment by the end.
Pooled evidence. A 2018 systematic review in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (Rasenberg and colleagues) pooled randomised trials of foot orthoses for plantar heel pain. As described in coverage of the paper, it found foot orthoses were not superior to sham or other conservative treatment, and no clear difference between custom and prefabricated devices; we could not read the full tables, so we do not quote effect sizes.
Guidance. The 2023 guideline from the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy (JOSPT, 2023 revision) is the current reference. We could not open the full text, so we rely on a secondary summary that reports stretching and manual therapy at the top of the evidence grades and says foot orthoses should not be used as an isolated short-term pain-relief treatment. The same summary does not rule them out as part of a combined plan.
The practical reading: an insole is a reasonable, inexpensive experiment, but it is not a cure, and a custom orthotic has not been shown to beat a good off-the-shelf one in the trials above.
Spec-only comparison
| Feature | Dr. Scholl’s Plantar Fasciitis All-Day Pain Relief Orthotics | Powerstep Pulse Maxx |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Full-length foam insole with forefoot cushioning, supportive arch, shock-absorbing heel cup, per the Dr. Scholl’s page | Full-length insole with firm but flexible neutral arch shell and a deep heel cradle, per the Powerstep page |
| Arch material | Page describes foam cushioning only and lists no other materials (Dr. Scholl’s page) | Polypropylene arch shell with a 2-degree medial post, over EVA with ShockAbsorb foam, per the Powerstep page |
| Sizes | Men’s 8 to 13 and women’s 6 to 10, per the Dr. Scholl’s page | Men’s 4 to 15 and women’s 6 to 12, widths up to 2E, per the Powerstep page |
| Fit | Trim to fit by cutting along the printed size outline, per the Dr. Scholl’s page | No trimming required, designed for shoes with a removable insole, per the Powerstep page |
| Replacement | Replace every six months or at first signs of wear, per the Dr. Scholl’s page | Not stated on the page we read |
| Organisation endorsement | Page cites no specific study for its clinical claims (Dr. Scholl’s page) | States it is accepted by the American Podiatric Medical Association (Powerstep page) |
Two caveats. The Dr. Scholl’s page calls the product “clinically proven” but names no study, and it carries a footnote saying a consultant is paid by the company, so we treat those as marketing claims. And Powerstep markets the Pulse Maxx first as a running-shoe insole for overpronation, so check that it fits the shoes you wear every day.
Who each one suits
Dr. Scholl’s may suit you if
- You want to try an insole cheaply and easily from a local store before spending more.
- Your foot is average-sized within the printed size ranges, and you are comfortable trimming an insole to fit.
- You prefer a softer, foam-cushioned feel. That is a comfort preference; the trial above used a soft sham insole that did about as well on pain.
Search for the product here: Dr. Scholl’s plantar fasciitis orthotics on Amazon.
Powerstep Pulse Maxx may suit you if
- You want a firmer, shaped arch shell, which is closer to what the trials called a firm prefabricated insole.
- You wear athletic or walking shoes with a removable liner and do not want to trim.
- Your foot is outside the Dr. Scholl’s size range, since the Powerstep size run is wider.
Current listing: Powerstep Pulse Maxx on Amazon.
Downsides
- Short-lived benefit. In the best trial we found the function gain was small and short-lived.
- A firm arch can feel wrong at first. If the shell causes arch cramping or pain along the inside of the foot, stop and ask a clinician. That is a general fitting point and not a result from a trial.
- Shoe fit. An insole takes up room. Shoes with a snug toe box may need a half size up; our guide to walking shoes for seniors and shoes that prevent falls cover what to look for.
- Not for numbness. Insoles do not treat nerve pain or numbness from diabetes.
Safety and clinical caveats
See a clinician if heel pain follows an injury, appears with swelling, redness or fever, wakes you at night or is not improving after several weeks of home care. If you have diabetes, poor circulation or reduced foot sensation, ask your clinician or a podiatrist before trying any new insole, because friction points can become sores without being felt. The treatment with the strongest support in the guideline summary is calf and plantar fascia stretching (guideline summary), so do not treat an insole as a replacement for it. This article is general information and not medical advice.
A simple way to try an insole
- Pick one insole and use it in your most-worn shoes for a few weeks, with stretching, so you can tell whether it helped.
- Do not change several things at once; otherwise you will not know which one worked.
- If pain is no better, see a clinician instead of buying a third or fourth pair.
Frequently asked questions
Are Dr. Scholl’s or Powerstep insoles better for plantar fasciitis?
Neither has been compared head to head in the sources we found. The best trial found prefabricated and custom insoles gave a small function gain at three months that was gone by twelve months (AAFP summary), so choose on fit and comfort.
Do I need custom orthotics for plantar fasciitis?
Not necessarily. A trial of 135 people found no meaningful difference between custom and prefabricated insoles (PEDro), and a pooled review also found no clear difference between them (BJSM).
Can I use these insoles in dress shoes?
The Powerstep page says the Pulse Maxx is designed for athletic shoes with a removable insole (Powerstep), while the Dr. Scholl’s page says its insole is made for casual shoes, sneakers and work boots (Dr. Scholl’s). Neither lists dress shoes.
How long should I try an insole before giving up?
There is no trial-proven number. The 2023 guideline summary puts stretching at the top and does not make insoles a stand-alone treatment (summary), so use a few weeks as a practical test and see a clinician if there is no improvement.
What else helps plantar fasciitis besides insoles?
The guideline summary lists calf and plantar fascia stretching, manual therapy, taping and night splints (summary). Our plantar fasciitis guide explains the options.