Enjoy this Guest Post by Mitchell Hagler, president of Richard York of Riverhead, Inc. [dba: Richard York Shoes] in Southampton, NY

Follow Richard York Shoes on Twitter @TheShoeDawg

Being a full service comfort shoe store owner is a mixed blessing for me — a fellow plantar fasciitis sufferer. You might think that the physician would be able to heal thyself, but pity the fool who has himself for a patient. Too many great shoe choices can sometimes leave one feeling as overwhelmed as a kid in a candy shop.

Over the years, I’ve found a measure of relief from my plantar fasciitis symptoms by wearing either the Arizona or Boston, two styles made by Birkenstock. That’s right, “Birks”, the good old earthy-crunchy favorites of hippie-trippie 1960’s Haight – Ashbury and Woodstock. For plantar fasciitis sufferers, evaluating Birkenstock on the rubric of fit comfort, fashion, durability, and price yields a “definite maybe” rating.

 Let’s take a closer look:

 Fit and Comfort: The Arizona and Boston both have the Birkenstock signature ortho-footbed. This is a firm, molded, supportive structure built of compressed cork and natural latex with a soft suede top liner. The arch support is substantial, and a deep heel cup design provides necessary stability. Both styles come labeled in German narrow and regular widths which translates to U.S. medium and wide. With adjustable straps, both will fit almost any width feet. However, if you need a true half size, you’ll need to explore other brands; Birkenstocks are made on a European whole size grading. Looking for more cushioned support? Consider the soft top footbed version available on both styles. But, if you require a custom orthotic, you are out of luck. Neither style accommodates one, and they both have open back construction, so if you need closed back support, you’ll want to explore other Birkenstock models – possibly the Toyko clog and Milano sandal. There is good news if you need a high arch footbed-an extra high arch option is available in certain core colors of both the Arizona and Boston.

If you are in the throes of a plantar fasciitis  flair up, I suggest you strongly consider the soft top option and gradually build up to a full day’s wear time.

Durability: Quite simply, I have found Birkenstocks to last for years with proper care. Cork sole sealer treatment is recommended to extend the life of these shoes. Upper materials can be maintained with standard shoe care products, and if needed, the outsoles can be replaced at any independent Birkenstock repair center.

Fashion: Both styles are available in core and seasonal color palettes with material offerings of suede and smooth leather uppers. Take note, both styles come in vegan-animal friendly birko buc, and seasonal offerings of other fibers such as humane wool, hemp, and cotton canvas. While classic iconic styles, their look blends nicely with today’s bohemian gypsy clothing fashions. Both models are suitable for business casual dress as well.

Price: Suggested retail prices are in the $120 USD range for the Arizona and $130 USD for the Boston.

Conclusion: While not for every plantar fasciitis suffer, Birkenstocks certainly fit the therapeutic footwear criteria to aid in the relief from plantar fasciitis symptoms, and offer plenty of custom variations at a middle price range in today’s market. The Arizona and Boston merit consideration when shopping for your next shoe.

Disclaimer: Always consult a foot health professional completely familiar with your condition to guide you in making a proper footwear selection. The views expressed in this review are those of the article’s author. All rights reserved.

About the author: Mitchell Hagler is a third generation family footwear retailer who is president of Richard York of Riverhead, Inc. [dba: Richard York Shoes] in Southampton, NY. He was reared in the family shoe business, which was established in 1938 by his Grandpa Max. With over 25 years personal experience meeting a spectrum of consumers’ footwear needs, Mitchell is a career long member of the National Shoe Retailers Association, the Retail Council of New York State, and the Southampton Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached via e-mail: sales@RichardYorkShoes.com, Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RichardYorkShoes, or Twitter: @TheShoeDawg

The Strassburg Sock is used to treat Plantar Fasciitis, Achilles Tendonitis, Heel Pain and Tight Calf Muscles. 

The device consists of a tubular knit material that fits “over the calf” with 2 attached adjustable straps to maintain the foot in a neutral to slightly stretched position. When worn at night the device will apply a force which results in the reduction and/or elimination of the pain felt during those first steps in the morning.

Learn more about this special sock from this Strassburg Sock review.

The Strassburg Sock is sold individually and available in two sizes:

Regular: Fits calf size up to 16 inches
Large: Fits calf size 16 to 21 inches

(Measure AROUND calf at the widest point.)

Click here to order a Large sized Strassburg sock.
Click here to order a Regular size Strassburg sock.

I have tried all kinds of treatments for my plantar fasciitis but using the Strassburg Sock seems to be working well for me. If you suffer from plantar fasciitis, heel pain, heel spurs, tight calves or achilles tendonitis this is an inexpensive treatment that I totally recommend.

The Strassbug sock is different from other types of night boots, braces or splints as it does not lock your ankle into one position. It does keep your foot in a neutral position (almost 90° angle) but it is much more comfortable than wearing other types of mechanical devices such as a night brace, especially while sleeping.

This sock is made of a white knit material. It looks just like a tube sock, extending up your leg and over the calf. There are two straps attached to the sock. These straps are used to keep the foot in a slightly neutral position and is worn while you are in a resting position, sitting down or sleeping.

The Strassburg Sock (1 per package) comes in two sizes, Regular and Large. The regular size strassburg sock fits on legs where the calf measures up to 16 inches. The large size fits on calfs sized 16-21 inches. To determine the best size, measure your calf around its widest point.

I found this sock to be mostly comfortable. The only real problem that I had with it was that it felt a bit tight around the calf. However, it did not deter me from using the sock and getting some relief from my pain.

Are you ready to give the Strassburg sock a try? 

Remeber to measure your calf before placing your order to make sure you get the correct size.

Click here to order a Large sized Strassburg sock.
Click here to order a Regular size Strassburg sock.

Enjoy this Guest Post by Bret Rasmussen CEO/Owner Kuru Footwear
Follow Kuru Footwear on Twitter @Kuru_footwear

Do you have a sharp, stabbing pain in your foot? Is the pain worse in the morning? There’s a good chance you may be suffering from plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is one of the few foot problems that can creep up on anyone, regardless of your physical fitness, body or weight, or activity level. With professional athletes like Chicago Bulls’ Taj Gibson, or the San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker getting diagnosed with Plantar Fasciitis, all of us are at risk. Though there’s a lot of uncertainty as to what exactly causes Plantar Fasciitis, Podiatrists know that poor quality, ill-fitting shoes can be a main contributing factor that aggravates plantar fasciitis.

Most shoes are not designed to support your foot properly. The problem is if you remove the insole from most shoes in your closet, you will find that they are flat underneath. Your foot isn’t flat, so you shouldn’t be wearing flat shoes. As a result, your feet are not properly supported and problems such as plantar fasciitis may arise. One of the best first steps to solve this problem is finding the best shoes for plantar fasciitis.

What if there were shoes for plantar fasciitis that could eliminate or reduce your pain? A shoe designed around your foot, molded like a custom orthotic, giving your foot the support it needs. How would your life change if your active lifestyle was no longer on hold because of the pain?
In fact, one of the first thing podiatrists recommend when treating those with plantar fasciitis is a new pair of properly supportive shoes. Following we will discuss how to select the right kind of shoes to help solve your plantar fasciitis.

What to Look for in the Best Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis

Now that you know you need better shoes for your plantar fasciitis, let’s review the basic features needed in the best shoes for plantar fasciitis. Important things to consider include:

Lightweight – Having lightweight shoes can significantly reduce the fatigue on your legs and muscles. Research shows that even 1 or 2 extra ounces on your feet can exponentially increase oxygen consumption, causing fatigue. Find shoes that are lighter weight, yet supportive for your feet. You want your feet focusing on healing, not expending extra energy carrying unnecessary weight.

Support – As mentioned previously, Podiatrists say that poor support in footwear is one of the leading contributors to plantar fasciitis. The best shoes for plantar fasciitis will have orthotic quality, anatomical support built into the footbed and insole. This includes a deep heel cup and solid medial arch support.

Rockered Sole – the best shoes for plantar fasciitis will include a rockered sole that allows for a natural walking motion. Look for a nice, rounded heel strike zone that allows your foot to naturally roll as you walk. This will reduce impacts to your skeletal structure and feet. Kuru has optimized the heel strike angle to allow for a stable yet smooth roll with each step.

Versatile & Multi-Function Styling – the best shoes for plantar fasciitis are not only Lightweight, but also offer proper support and versatile styling. Styling that works in many different applications means that the best shoes for plantar fasciitis will work well for your morning walks, when traveling, running errands and even casual days at work.

Kuru is a new brand that offers a patent pending orthotic-quality midsole in their shoes for plantar fasciitis. You can also find a comprehensive page on plantar fasciitis at Kuru’s website that includes various treatments, exercises, and other valuable tips.

Links:
 
Shoes for plantar fasciitis – http://www.kurufootwear.com/shoesforplantarfasciitis
Plantar fasciitis – http://www.kurufootwear.com/plantarfasciitis

Excruciating heel pain is usually caused by a number of things, and among those are plantar fasciitis and heel spurs. Plenty of doctors and patients alike confuse the conditions heel spur and plantar fasciitis. While they are related to each other, the aren’t the same conditions. Around 70 percent of patients who have plantar fasciitis have heel spur. However, not all patients who have heel spur have symptoms of pain in heel or have plantar fasciitis. How plantar fasciitis and heel spur relates to each other is not know. What is known, however, is that while they are related to each other they are two completely different things.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis Anyway?

The plantar fascia is a fibrous tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot. This broad, inelastic and thick band of tissue starts from the heel bone or the calcaneus and ends the metatarsal bones on the ball of the foot. This tight tissue band basically acts like a bowstring and holds together the arch of the foot. Plantar fasciitis is then a condition that refers to the inflammation of these muscles. The inflammation is caused by an injury of the plantar fascia. Most typically, plantar fasciitis is caused – but not always so-by repeated trauma near the heel, where the muscle is attached to the calcaneus. Plantar fasciitis can occur in all age groups, however, it is mostly seen in middle aged men and women.

 What About a Heel Spur?

A heel spur, on the other hand, is a hook or focal point of bone that grows on the heel. This bone growth usually protrudes from the point as to where the plantar fascia attaches itself to a person’s heel bone. A heel spur is though to happen when the part of the plantar fascia attached to the heel bone or calcaneus tears away. When this happens, the outer layer of the bone is injured and can cause bleeding. This exposed area can then ossify and cause a heel spur. Basically, a heel spur does not cause plantar fasciitis condition, but can come along as a symptom of the condition. Heel spurs can occur in all ages as well, but is usually present in middle aged men and women.

 So, What’s The Difference?

Heel spurs can occur without any accompanying symptom of pain at all. So if a person has both plantar fasciitis and heel spur, there is a huge possibility that it is not the heel spur that causes pain but the constant irritation and inflammation of the plantar fascia. Home treatments for plantar fasciitis and heel spurs are basically the same  such as ice packs, heel inserts, stretches and anti – inflammatory medication. It is best to remember though, that these treatments merely take away the pain caused by the condition. Since plantar fasciitis is usually the main cause of pain and not the heel spur, treating the spur (which is basically just a symptom of the pain) is not the solution to the problem at all.

Most patients with plantar fasciitis now respond positively to non – surgical treatments, but recovery time can be slow. While some treatments can work for one patient, it may not work for all. Thus, it is still always very important to get proper medical care for the plantar fasciitis condition.

Years of walking and running can wear down our feet, and can be hard on our heels. Likewise, poor circulation, improperly trimmed toenails, disease and tight fitting shoes all contribute to pain in the heel.

Massage with water 
This treatment is ideal for any type of foot or heel pain and only needs a container of hot and cold water. Here’s what you do:

1. Soak your foot for 5 minutes in cold water
2. Move the foot to a container of hot water of a tolerable temperature. The temperature of the water should not be cool or even lukewarm.
3. Soak the foot in the hot water for 5 minutes
4. Return to the cold water

Repeat the procedure until the pain is gone. This process has a massaging effect that revitalizes feet by opening and closing blood vessels.

It is also a great idea to rub moisturizing lotion into your feet before getting into bed. The lotion makes feet easier to massage and therefore bring relief faster.

Put some heat on your feet
Using ointments enriched with capsaicin, an active natural ingredient in hot peppers also helps in relieving foot pain. These products are excellent in cooling the pain caused by burning feet particularly for diabetes patients. Initial application of the ointment may cause some burning sensation for many people, but when used regularly, the burning effect is likely to lessen.

Moreover, people who been using the capsaicin in treating their burning feet have experienced great improvement and were able to walk more easily compared to those using other types of creams. Best of all, since these are topical medicine, patients tend to avoid a lot of side effects that usually happen when taking pills.

Most ointments are available over the counter, however it is important to talk with your doctor before you begin, as this type of therapy is not right for everyone.

Avoid high-heeled shoes
For recreational walkers and runners it is important to temporarily lower how much you’re walking or running when you’re about to use brand new shoes. This will help you to eliminate many of the break-in pains. Advances in shoe development have made modern athletic footwear much less likely to cause a problem than ever before.

Stretch out your calf
Stretching the heel cord at the back of the foot can relieve heel pain. Start by:

1. Standing three feet away from a wall, place your hand on the wall.
2. Lean in to the wall, bringing one leg forward and bending at the elbows.
3. Keep your back leg straight with the heel on the floor and then gently stretch the calf muscle.
4. Repeat for the other foot

Buy shoes that fit the shape of your feet
Shoe size is considered to be the most important aspect in buying shoes — but the shoe shape is equally important. You read it right; the shape of the shoe is also an important factor to consider.

There three basic foot shapes — curved, slightly curved and straight. Although, there may be some variations, generally those individuals with high arches need a curved shoe; those with flat feet need a straight shoe and those who have neither flat or high arches need a slight curve. In this video, Dr. Oz talks about foot types.

When buying running or walking shoes it is best to select shapes that fit the curve of the arch on the inner side of the foot.

Click here for a resource with more information to heal your foot pain.

The 5 Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution is a 96 page book that is quick, simple and easy to read. While it centers around a five minute treatment program that can easily be done at home, it actually provides more than that. As they say, information is the best cure there is for anything else. And that is basically what this book does. The 5 Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution provides detailed explanation about plantar fasciitis, its symptoms, why it happens, when it happens, who it usually happens to and more. Then, after you get through all the nitty–gritty (but essential) parts, it then presents to you a simple and easy to do way of eliminating it. The 5 Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution is true to its name. It’s simply a program that you can do within five minutes of each day – and it’s all natural and does not need any drugs, surgery or expensive equipment. This solution has been found to be effective in 94% of all recorded cases.

The author of the book, Jim Johnson, presents all the content in simple form, which means you don’t have to swim through medical jargon page after page. His years of experience as a physical therapist have enabled him to work with patients of varying mobility and pain problems. He is also certified by the American Physical Therapy as clinical instructor – and currently teaches physical therapy students all around the country while saving mankind from excruciating heel pain. The book is basically the only thing you need when you want to treat plantar fasciitis. He’s done all the research and all you have to do is read.

The 96 page book can easily be finished in one sitting – which means that after reading it, you can easily start using the knowledge you have garnered to finally rid yourself of pain in the plantar fascia forever!

Read more about the 5 Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution

We all know and respect Dr. Oz as being the one we go to for truthful health infomation. One of the items on Dr. Oz’s healthy list is walking. His reccomendation is to walk at least 10,000 steps a day. In this video, Dr. Oz talks about your foot type and how to choose the proper shoes for your foot type.

Follow this up by reading Choosing Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis where you will find some reccommendations for specific shoes you should look at.

What kind of shoes do you wear? One of my favorites….Kuru Footwear.

Shoe inserts are one of the most indispensable and helpful products that you can use while undergoing plantar fasciitis treatment. Because plantar fasciitis can be very painful, wearing regular shoes may prove to be almost impossible or excruciating. It is very important to get the right footwear if you have the condition. While it’s wise to buy new shoes that have been specifically designed for plantar fasciitis and other foot problems, shoe inserts can still be very helpful as well. Shoe inserts, which are also known as insoles or orthotics shoe inserts address a variety of foot problems like supination and pronation among other things. Inserts also increase stability of the foot while the user is mobile, and they provide proper cushioning of the heel as well.

There are different factors that must be thought of when it comes to choosing the right orthotics shoe inserts. This is because not all inserts are made the same, and not all of them address the same kinds of foot problems. The type of foot that you have will play a major role on your shoe insert choice. There are numerous models of inserts that are created to fit different types of foot. Cupped models, for example, are perfect for people ho have high to medium arch feet. Inserts with posted insoles are great for those who have low arches, or even those who have flat feet. There are also supported models, which lift a particular part of the foot, such as the ball of the foot. Neutral designs provide overall comfort for those needing moderate support.

There are different kinds of inserts. The most common inserts are Gel Inserts or Carbosan Type inserts. While the choice of material does not really matter when it comes to effectiveness, comfort is still a huge factor. Gel inserts are made from silicone that is dense, and these have specific points for pressure relief. Carbosan top inserts, on the other hand, are softer than the former, and are made from anti – microbial materials.

Lastly, the condition preempting you to use a shoe insert may also be a determining factor on your shoe insert of choice. There are different shoe inserts made for diabetes, plantar fasciitis and even arthritis.  is amazing and the benefits are endless. With these factors presented, you can now take a look at several types of shoe inserts that are affordable and quick to use, and can easily relieve pain brought about by plantar fasciitis.

Metatarsal Pads – Metatarsal pads are inserts placed under the metatarsalgia or the ball of the foot, helping decrease pain and pressure under that part of the foot.

Gel Heel Cups - Gel heel cups are one of the most common choices of plantar fasciitis patients, as they provide a lot of protection and padding over the areas that experience most pain. Gel heel cups usually elevate the hindfoot, thus relieving and reducing pressure placed on the plantar fascia. Gel heel cups are perfect for  everyday wear.

Arch Support Inserts - Arch support inserts are shoe inserts that provide people who have high arches with the right support so as to reduce pronation. Arch supports place the foot in neutral position, and reduces foot pain as well.

Shoe inserts are undoubtedly one of the best inventions, and one of the most helpful products for people who suffer from severe foot pain brought about by plantar fasciitis. Regardless of your shoe insert of choice, it is undeniable that investing in a pair of them or two can provide amazing gains and endless relief on your part as the user.

Here are several choice shoe inserts you may want to try.

Superfeet Active Insoles keep you on your feet! The Superfeet Active Capsule is a highly versatile Trim-to-Fit insole. Because it’s a little thinner, it works well in most lower-volume casual and sport shoes (running, mountain biking and tennis), or when you can’t remove the inner sole from shoes. It is also ideal for flatter feet that may not tolerate higher arch support. More details: Rear-foot control point prevents over-pronation and helps keep your foot correctly aligned for less stress on muscles and joints; Mid-foot control point stabilizes your mid-foot for a very stable foot, creating less muscle fatigue and more endurance; Patented support bridge activates all the control points for better balance and alignment during the stride; Long-wearing Trocellen foam is a high-quality, durable closed-cell foam for long-lasting comfort; Natural shock absorption system naturally softens heel shock; Patented shape contours to your natural foot shape, which helps provide maximum contact with the ground for balance and control; Approx. 3 ozs. per pair. D-Fits Men’s shoe sizes 7.5-9; E-Fits Men’s shoe sizes 9.5-11; F-Fits Men’s shoe sizes 11.5-13. Get yours now! Superfeet Active Insoles