Can Birkenstocks cure PF?

No, but you'll look stylish while suffering.

Don't give up on treating your PF. BTW, Birkenstocks WILL NOT cure PF. It is a problem dealing with tightness in your calves, achilles, and the plantar fascia in the feet. Now, you're just grasping at straws.

hmm... wrote: It is a problem dealing with tightness in your calves, achilles, and the plantar fascia in the feet.

At least the Birks - assuming the shoes have low or no heels like their sandals - will stretch those calves while support the arches. They won't by themselves "cure" the PF but they might play an important supporting role. Street shoes/sandals can make an enormous difference with calf tightness - you're wearing them a lot more hours than your running shoes.

I wear birkenstocks. I had a horrible case of PF.

I would say that birkenstocks can be part of a comprehensive recovery program, and, since you seem to be mostly recovered, I would also say that they can help to keep a recurrence of PF at bay.

And I'd also recommend visiting an active release therapist once a month or so, just to make sure your lower legs are working as they should.

Peter V

Try stretching the heck out of your feet by curling your toes up and holding it as described in this article. Alternatively, you can go into a "calf stretch"-type position except put your front foot all the way up against the wall with the toes pointing upwards on the wall itself and the ball of your foot as far forward as it will go (at the juncture of the wall and the floor). Turn front knee slightly outward, hold, turn front knee slightly inward, hold, repeat for a while. It's the same type of stretch idea.

Article:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/11/061101150739.htm

Birkenstocks helped me get over my PF. If you are wearing custom orthotics to give you support in your running shoes why wouldn't you want good support in your everyday shoes? I'm sure there are other shoes out there with similiar footbeds but Birkenstocks are probably the most popular and easiest to find.

I used OTC orthotics, Birkenstocks, ice and stretching to treat my PF and never had to take time off from running.

I've had PF, first in one foot then in the other, for years now.

In order to keep my calf in a mild stretch all the time, I bought some earth shoe sandals, which have the heel lower than the toes. Yes, earth shoes are back, apparently part of the same wave of 70s nostalgia that brought us the Starsky and Hutch and Dukes of Hazzard movies.

Unfortunately, nothing I've done has brought me relief, and I've tried copious stretching, icing, physical therapy, strengthening exercises, Active Release massage, Strasbourg sock, cortisone shots, accupuncture, and orthotics.

But at least I'm rockin' the earth shoes.

birkenstocks made mine a lot worse. the heal cup is low in birkenstocks allowing, or forcing, your heal to sit lower than the rest of your foot, putting more stress on the plantar fascia

I had PF several years ago and didn't think I would ever get over it. I think that the Birkenstocks were definitely instrumental in curing mine. I did get orthotics and did a lot of stretching but I never went barefooted; I had the birkenstocks by the bed at night. Now that I am not bothered I may get up in the night and not wear them. I didn't have to quit running and I carried mail for a living; I have since retired. I also took calcium and other vitamins and used ice and lots of stretching along with Motrin and Aleve etc. Good Luck!!

yes, they cured mine. They make your arches stronger by forcing your toes to grip the sandles and keep them on your feet. Wear them loose, they'll make your feet stronger. Orthotics are a crutch for weak feet. After 15 years on orthotics and hronic PF and AT, I threw them away after 4 weeks on birks.

yes...and beet juice cures aids.

when I had pf really bad in both feet, I bought some Earth Shoes; which had a sloping toe to heal sole-to help keep my achilles and calf stretched out.

don't give up on the custom orthotics- mine needed to be adjusted several times to get them just right. Talk to your podiatrist about it. My orthotics were 'soft' not the rigid, plastic ones. They worked our much better for me.

I did not wear my orthotics in my street shoes.

get a cortisone shot to clear up the inflamation. It is not the final answer, but will move you forward.

I had cripling pf in both feet; but was able to overcome it with the above stuff and went on to run for another 10 years with many 100 mile weeks and a fine career....and I was almost forced to quit running at 19 because of p.f. and did miss a couple of years in college, trying to battle it.

are you wearing a tie-dyed t-shirt too?