I play rec basketball a few times a week and I've been getting this arch and heel pain that sticks around even when I'm not playing. A friend mentioned it could be plantar fasciitis. Is there an insole specifically for basketball that would help? I've never used insoles before.
Your friend's guess is a reasonable one. Arch and heel pain that lingers between sessions — not just during activity — is a common sign of plantar fasciitis or a related strain on the tissue and tendons along the bottom of the foot. That said, the repetitive impact of basketball can also contribute to general arch fatigue and heel soreness without a specific diagnosis, so there may be a few things going on at once.
Basketball is one of the tougher sports on the feet. Repeated jumps and landings drive significant force through the heel and arch, quick cuts and stops put lateral stress on the foot that most other sports don't, and hardwood courts give no cushioning whatsoever. Stock basketball shoe insoles are usually flat foam with minimal support — enough to fill the shoe, but not enough to meaningfully protect the foot from the demands of the game. A supportive insole addresses both the impact and the arch strain that are likely contributing to your pain. Here are two strong options.
Currex ActivePro Insoles
The Currex ActivePro is designed from the ground up for multi-directional court and gym sports — basketball, tennis, CrossFit, and similar disciplines where the foot is asked to run, jump, cut, and pivot in rapid succession. Unlike a general-purpose insole, the ActivePro is built around the specific load pattern of those activities. It comes in three arch height profiles (low, medium, and high), so rather than wearing a one-size-fits-all support, you're choosing an insole matched to the shape of your actual foot — which matters a lot for both comfort and effectiveness when it comes to plantar fasciitis-related pain.
The insole features a semi-rigid arch support that works with your foot's natural motion rather than locking it in place, Poron heel and metatarsal pads for targeted shock absorption at the two areas of the foot that take the most punishment during basketball, and a memory foam mid-layer for all-over pressure relief. The Poron heel pad is particularly relevant here — Poron is a high-performance cushioning material that absorbs impact more effectively than standard foam and rebounds well, which helps with both pain relief and the energy return that basketball demands.
The arch support will help take pressure off the plantar fascia with every step and landing, reducing the cycle of stress that keeps heel and arch pain from resolving between sessions. The combination of sport-specific design and arch-height personalization makes this one of the more complete options for someone dealing with active foot pain while continuing to play.
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New Balance Active Cushion Insoles
The New Balance Active Cushion Insoles are a versatile high-impact insole built for athletic activities across the board, and they show up near the top of our basketball insole collection for good reason. They offer semi-rigid arch support alongside two layers of anti-fatigue cushioning, a forefoot pad for ball-of-foot shock absorption, and a heel cushion designed to soften impact force at landing. That combination hits the main checkboxes for basketball: arch support to protect the plantar fascia, heel cushioning to absorb landing impact, and forefoot cushioning for push-off and lateral movement.
What sets these apart from the ActivePro is simplicity and consistency. There's no arch profile selection required — they work well across neutral to high arch types — and the construction is straightforward and durable. For someone new to insoles who wants a reliable, sport-ready option without a lot of fitting decisions to make, the Active Cushion is a very solid place to start. The arch height sits at 30mm, which is a good fit for most people with neutral to moderately high arches.
If you'd simply prefer a more universal athletic insole without profile-specific sizing, the New Balance Active Cushion is a strong alternative that covers the same core needs.
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Summary
Both insoles offer the arch support and shock absorption you need to address the heel and arch pain you've been dealing with, but they suit slightly different preferences. Go with the Currex ActivePro if you want the most sport-specific fit and don't mind taking a moment to identify your arch height — the personalized profile and high-performance Poron cushioning make it the stronger pick for the demands of basketball. Go with the New Balance Active Cushion if you prefer a simpler, no-guesswork option that still covers all the key bases for high-impact athletic use. Either way, it's worth giving your feet two to three weeks to adjust to the new support before evaluating how well they're working.