Birkenstock for platar fasciitis?

Stick with the classic footbed. Where them ALL the time. The number one cause of PF is walking around barefoot.

I have two pairs of the Pisa (softbed) and one Eaton (original) ... I haven't noticed a significant difference in either wrt my PF. Works like a charm. I have "cured" my PF by only wearing Birkenstocks and tie my shoes differently - I basically skip the middle ties - so there is a 'gap' in the center of my foot. And I wear an arch band ($3 at any drug store). After 6 months of pain I hardly ever get any pain anymore.

Good luck.

Ok thanks. Good to hear that Birkenstocks can make a difference with PF. I basically walk around barefoot in my house. My podiatrist suggested wearing my running shoes when walking around at home but can't imagine walking around in shoes in the house. I wanted something casual like sandals but with some support.

Do it. I had moderate PF with quite a bit of arch pain. I had never considered buying a pair Birkenstocks. I thought they were overpriced sandals for people with sweaters tied around their shoulders. I won a pair of Bostons with the soft footbed, and within a week, my feet felt better than ever. The footbed decision depends on your preference. If you like a softer, cushioned sole...the soft footbed is for you. If not, go with the original. Really, the soft foot bed will lose its cushion in a month or two of regular use.

In my experience, running shoes around the house is the worst thing you can do. I can go barefoot now, but for a while I wore my birks all the time.

This is incorrect. Tightness in the gastroc, soleus and achilles contribute to planar fasciitis. Unstable shoes with too much midfoot flex contribute to PF. In general, walking barefoot will help to stretch these areas and strengthen the foot. However, if someone already has PF, walking barefoot will be painful, but it is most certainly not the cause.

There must have been a lot of cavemen with Plantar Fasciitis.

I don't know about Birkentocks, but back when I had very bad pf in the early 70s, I bought some 'Earth Shoes' which had a downward sloping sole from the toe to the heel; which gave a slight stretch to the achilles tendon and calf muscles. I don't know how much they helped, but they probably did to a degree. I remember jogging a few blocks in them once when I was late for class and my calfs were a little sore the next day. Custom-made orthotics are what finally put my bad pf in both feet into my rear view mirror forever. Do they still make 'Earth Shoes'?

Those of you who have found relief for PF by wearing Birkenstocks, what is it about Birkenstocks that helps PF? Is it the softness of the footpad? Is it that the heel is raised? Is it that it's not tight across the top of the arch? Would Keen sandals have the same effect?

What do you mean by skip the middle ties?

My understanding is that Birkenstocks help because there is not heel to them. This relieves strain on the PF. Also, usually your toes grip onto the front of the shoes and this helps to strengthen your feet.

My mother (not a runner) had been having some PF pain. I suggested the Birkenstocks to her and she reports that they have helped a lot.

Birkenstocks really have worked for me and I have worn them for years; I have a couple pairs and the oldest ones are the ones I wear all the time; even now I seldom go barefooted and for years kept the birkenstocks by the bed and put them on when I got up. I do stretch every morning and evening but I was really bothered with a lot of pain; actually it hurt worse to walk than it did to run and I ran most of the time even when it was the worst. I did go to a foot Doctor and got orthotics and wore them for a lot of years too but I think the birkenstocks and stretching cured me.

I lace my running shoes like this:

top XX=X

basically, I don't cross the laces over the top of my foot above the arch. It seems to keep the pressure off of that part of my foot when it flexes.

ran a 12.8km race barefoot today on all sorts of hard surfaces and i am fine. maybe i am just lucky but i dont think so.

PF i think is more about how you land than what you wear.

Either way, best wishes to the OP.

the point could be wrote:

ran a 12.8km race barefoot today on all sorts of hard surfaces and i am fine. maybe i am just lucky but i dont think so.

PF i think is more about how you land than what you wear.

Either way, best wishes to the OP.

no, i have a high arch. and there is only so much u can do about 'how you land'

Sorry to hear about your pf. That was my only long lasting injury. I tried various shoes (not Birks). Shoe type didn't seem to have huge effect, although low heels definitely stretched the calf. I found strengthening the muscles on the front of the lower leg the most effective treatment. Simply raising my foot with my heel on the ground while sitting at my desk worked wonders. Good luck.

I just bought a pair of the Arizonas today with the orginal footbed. The way the footbed is designed almost puts no pressure on the heel. I think I'm going to get a pair of the waterproof ones so that I can wear them around the house and in the shower.

the answer is: train in flats

I'm serious. It works.

And wear Birkenstocks afterward.