Plantar fasciitis pain relief

Yes. I looked at both the clinical guidance and current products. For plantar-fasciitis heel pain, I’d favor a simple foot roller—especially one you can chill—over an expensive electric massager. The evidence supports stretching and ice massage, while massage is best thought of as a pain-relief adjunct rather than a cure.www.aafp.org+1

What I'd buy

GoFit Polar Foot Roller

$42.99

Athletic Works Hot and Cold Foot Massage Roller

$9.88

THERABAND Foot Roller

$16.49

Gaiam Restore Hot & Cold Foot Roller Plus

$15.79

1. Best overall: a hot/cold rolling foot massager
A roller lets you gently work the arch and plantar fascia while the cold component provides the same basic idea as the recommended ice massage. The inexpensive Athletic Works roller is particularly compelling at around $10; the GoFit Polar roller is a more substantial option.www.aafp.org+1

2. Best simple option: ridged manual roller
Something like the THERABAND roller is inexpensive, portable, and lets you control the pressure yourself. I'd choose this over a hard, aggressively spiked ball—you don't want to repeatedly hammer an already painful heel.

3. I wouldn't make an expensive Shiatsu machine my first purchase.
Electric machines with heat, kneading and compression can feel great, but there's less reason to spend $100–$150 specifically for plantar fasciitis. If you already want one for general foot relaxation, that's different.

One device that may actually be more useful than a massager

If your worst pain is when you first get out of bed, consider a night splint. It keeps the ankle/foot gently stretched while you sleep. The evidence isn't as strong or consistent as for stretching, but it can be useful for some people, particularly with persistent morning pain.www.aafp.org+1

Vive Health Soft Night Splint

$46.99

How I'd use the roller

• 5–10 minutes, 1–2 times daily.
• Roll from the ball of the foot toward the heel, concentrating mainly on the arch, with gentle pressure.
• If cold feels good, chill the roller and use it for several minutes.
• Don't aggressively grind directly into the painful heel.
• Pair it with plantar-fascia-specific and calf stretching; current physical-therapy guidance considers stretching and strengthening more important components of treatment.www.aafp.org

My pick: start with a $10–$20 hot/cold foot roller, rather than a $100+ electric massager. If you're having significant morning pain, I'd put the money toward a night splint instead.

If you tell me where exactly the pain is (bottom of heel vs. arch vs. back of heel), how long you've had it, and whether morning steps are the worst, I can narrow this down to the best type of device for your particular symptoms.