Alistair Wearmouth

Plantar fasciitis—the pain caused by inflammation of the soft tissue connecting your heel and toe bones—is one of the most common causes of heel pain. Often experienced by runners who pound out miles on the trail or sidewalk, the condition is also a symptom in people carrying excess weight, as well as those with inadequate shoe support. High arch insoles, which vary in style, material, and shape, can help provide better support. If you are suffering from stabbing pain in your heel or other areas of the soles of your feet—in addition to consulting a medical professional for the best advice on the full range of orthotic treatments and remedies—look to these shoe insoles and supports to alleviate some of the pain.

Given that your feet bear the burden of most of your waking—not to mention, walking—life, isn’t it time you give them the love and attention they need? Let these massage balls work out the acute pain of plantar fasciitis in your heels and general aches across the rest of your foot. Even better: You can use them to unknot deep-tissue aches in other areas where you carry life’s stresses, like your neck, shoulders, glutes, and thighs. These massage balls and rollers offer a range of styles and functionalities, so you can get top-notch pain relief.

If you’ve ever suffered from an ankle or tendon injury, you recognize the support and comfort of a good compression sleeve or ankle brace can provide as you ease back toward full fitness. The products reviewed here can help as you rehab damaged or torn tendons, as well as just offer an added layer of protection around one of your body’s most used but often overlooked impact zones.

If you picked up a stress ball at a recent conference, don't just leave it on your desk as a colorful paperweight. Beyond giving you something to grip when you feel frazzled, stress balls help with injury recovery, strengthen hands, and reduce anxiety. Teachers even use them to help students mitigate nervous disorders such as ADHD. Here’s our pick of the best sets of grip balls for different uses, from hand and finger strengthening to stress and anxiety relief.

Whether you're working out in the gym or at home, it can be tough to create an exercise routine that works for your level of fitness, is varied enough to keep things interesting, and strengthens the areas you're trying to target. Instead of hiring a trainer or memorizing 14 different types of squats, pick up one of these handy guidance-giving exercise flash card sets.

Your grandma might have assembled her signature pie or family-favorite meal with a dash of this and a splash of that, but following and perfecting a recipe is a sure-fire route to culinary success. Trust these sets of measuring cups and spoons to add the right math to your next kitchen masterpiece; cooking with love is down to you, the chef.

You might recall the cheap plastic hoops littered across the yard from when you were a kid, but these day hula hooping is a mainstream fitness fad touted by the likes of Beyoncé, Michelle Obama and Selena Gomez. Shed the calories in a workout that works the hips, waist, and your balance with these aerobic-focused hoops. Beyond price and portability, focus on hoop weight, circumference and feel depending on your fitness goals.