Aircast AirHeel Ankle Support Brace (with and Without Stabilizers)

My podiatrist recommended this brace after a year in which I've been fighting plantar fasciitis, and it's saved me. The padding goes under the arch, providing support and presumably also stretching the plantar tendon with each step. It doesn't actually cushion the heel itself. But what it does do--and this is brilliant, whether intended or not--is that it essentially lifts the heel up off the ground, preventing it from striking the ground at all. So for the first time in a year I found myself walking, not with less pain, but with no pain whatsoever. This in turn seems to have allowed my heel to begin to recover and repair itself. Of course, I continue to do all of the requisite stretching, and it's finally starting to pay off. For full disclosure, I also allowed the podiatrist to give me a cortisone shot, which helped a bit but wasn't at all a magic bullet. If I didn't wear the Aircast, my heel still would hurt a lot, even after the shot. I believe it's the weeks of relief from striking the ground, coupled with the continued stretching, that have finally allowed my heel to begin heal.One caution: If you walk around a lot with the Aircast on, you're slightly throwing your body out of alignment because it lifts your right side a bit. I tend to get a light of tightness and cramping in my right side, and wearing the Aircast exacerbated that. So I had to take a few days off to allow my right side to loosen up. Others may not have this problem at all. But we're leaving on a trip that will entail lots of walking, so I've bought a second one and will wear it on my good foot so my body will be even. This is a consideration for people who have back issues, etc.One more point: there's a place in the back where a thin plastic liner sticks out and can rub annoyingly--even painfully--into your Achilles tendon. I took a small scissors and cut out the offending and unnecessary plastic. Took two minutes and now it's fine.Some reviewers have complained of the device deflating. I've been wearing it for weeks, and no such problem.If you've got plantar fasciitis, run (gently), don't walk, to get one of these!