About 10% of the population worldwide suffers from plantar fasciitis once in their lifetime. According to famous Physician Dr. Rutherford, only 14% of these suffering patients use the correct shoe while battling plantar fasciitis. When the bottom of feet or arch or even these two areas form a band/deep heel cup, that condition is Plantar Fasciitis. Simply, the main pressure points of feet turn into a thick ligament-like band. So when a patient walks, the band runs forward and attaches to the tip of the feet.
One of the most popular shoes that provide support while suffering from this condition is Birkenstocks. But are Birkenstocks good for plantar fasciitis? Read below to know.
What Are the Causes of Plantar Fasciitis?
The common cause has to be frequent foot sole ligament injury. This type of injury can be caused by a continuous strain that damages the plantar fascia. When a person runs or walks excessively or wears improper footwear or jumps from landing, the chances of causing ligament injury are high. Other diseases like arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis can also cause Plantar Fasciitis.
However, people, especially women between their 40s and 70s, are prone to this disease. If a person is overweight, then the chances become high. Even working as a waiter and being a long-distance runner increases the possibility of Plantar fasciitis. Genetical foot structure problems also lead to this condition.
What Are Birkenstocks?
Birkenstock’s have a vibrant history that started back in Germany. A shoemaker named Johann Adam Birkenstock was first registered for his shoe brand in the late 1700s at Neustadt village in Germany. The purpose was to create comfortable shoes acknowledging the need of foot problem patients with it’s innovative anatomically correct footbed.
In the USA, the shoe made an entry with the hands of Margot Fraser in 1966. These shows are innovative and have coin-shaped soles called footbeds. These footbeds fit the anatomy of a human foot that ensures stability and provides extra comfort than other shows. Gradually, it became popular as doctor sandals and sold at health stores for its convenience. Let’s move to your query i.e are Birkenstocks good for plantar fasciitis?
Are Birkenstocks Really Good for Plantar Fasciitis? (Quick Facts)
Comfortable
Comfort is the number one selling point of Birkenstock. As the footbed caters to your foot anatomy, it is an excellent choice for patients suffering from Plantar Fasciitis. The shoes provide extra support while walking, which means your feet sole don’t have to pressurize while walking.
Regular shoes contribute to the sole pain as you have to pour pressure using your feet ligament. Birkenstock footbed creates that extra pressure point for walking that previously you had to do with your feet wearing regular shoes. As a result, the shoe footbed adjusts to the suffered feet sole, and gradually users feel comfortable.
The company has made the outsole with its personalized footbed technology that reduces heel pain. Also, Birkenstocks are very durable shoes. My grandmother has a pair of Birkenstocks sandals for plantar fasciitis that lasted for 14 years, even after daily wear.
Nourishes muscles
Surprisingly, wearing Birkenstocks for a long time can reduce plantar fasciitis with its heel support. These shoes come with an orthopedic insole that provides extra support and cushioning for the user’s feet & heel spurs. These shoes prevent bunions and excessive foot pain even after the longest walk.
Physician Dr. Rutherford’s patient healed his plantar fasciitis by using Birkenstocks daily. Points were made that the shoes Orthopedic support decreased the need to provide extra pressure on his feet’ arc. After wearing it regularly for six months, his foot muscle strengthened and heel bone was relaxed.
Also, it automatically positions feet and prevents people’s feet from going significantly.
You can also check our article, Crocs for Plantar Fasciitis.
Feet blood circulation
Besides relaxing your feet muscles, it improves blood circulation. It is essential when it comes to healing this disease. These shoes come in medium heels, so there’s no chance of uncomfortable walking, and provides ample arch support.
Typically, wearing heels and shoes interrupts feet blood circulation. Also, the weight of the whole body is carried by feet. Birkenstocks prevent the full pressure slide to your affected ligament, resulting in better blood circulation.
It is a plus point for overweight patients as most common; their blood circulation is messed up due to plantar fasciitis. That leads to joint nourishment and strengthening.
If interested, you can check our article, solution for Birkenstock arch blister.
Relieves pain
If a patient has a flat feet or regular feet arch, there’s no shoe alternative other than Birkenstock. The concave foot cup and the contoured footbed provide the patient with stable balance at the heel and bone. Instead of direct support, it provides a cross transverse arch support and a longitudinal one.
Moreover, the raised toe bar design gives patients’ feet more movement. The toes have more space for moving, and no pressure on the ligament results in less pain. Birkenstock absorbs any disproportionate impact and relieves stress from your feet and spine.
I hope you have got your answer about whether Birkenstocks are good for plantar fasciitis or not.
Please check our article, are Hey Dude Shoes Really Good for Plantar Fasciitis? You can also check our article, Why are Birkenstocks giving me blisters?
Are Birkenstocks Good for Achilles Tendonitis?
When the tissue band that joins your leg muscle, especially calf muscle, strains, it causes intense pain and develops a condition called Achilles Tendonitis. Primarily, repetitive stress on the Achilles tendon causes the problem. People, especially men with flat arch feet who play sports suddenly or run in worn-out shoes, are the victims.
Birkenstocks footbed has a soft microfiber finish which provides proper arch support to a flat arch that reduces extra pressure on the Achilles tendon. Also, the flexible midsole inside the shoes absorbs any bump, which causes running or walking and reduces stress on the ankle.
Birkenstock’s design helps restore feet’ position into natural fitting as to how it’s designed. When I used to work at my old office, I had a colleague that suffered from the condition. His podiatrist recommended he wear Birkenstock Arizona until he heals from the problem.
Birkenstock catered to the Achilles tendon and provided extra support to the arch than other Birkenstocks. The shoes were so relaxing and comfortable that he continued to wear Birkenstocks differently even after healing. From His viewpoint, the footbed was relaxed, yet the shoes’ outsole was durable enough to go through rocky roads and provided his leg with no extra pressure. So yes, Birkenstocks are good for Achilles Tendonitis?
Are Birkenstocks Good for Bunions?
Bunion means a bony bump beside the base of the big toe of the human body. It causes the big toe to pull towards tiny toes and takes the form of feet deformity. Dr. Paul from Twin cities suggests that Bunion sufferers avoid narrow and small pointe shoes.
He advises wearing shoes with wide soles and especially Birkenstocks. He also added that the widest part of one’s feet has to align with the shoe’s widest part, which only occurs when one wears Birkenstocks.
According to Dr. Karen Langone(Southampton), Birkenstock Florida Sandal & Birkenstock Milano Sandal or any Birkenstock sandals are recommended for Bunion sufferers. So Birkenstocks are Good for Bunions as per medical professionals.
Are Birkenstocks Good for Sciatica?
Remember the times after walking for a long time the side of your lower back hurts? This condition and its severe form are called Sciatica. After walking or standing for a long time, pain happens from the lower back to the hips and even the buttocks.
Basically, the full path of the sciatic nerve. Again Birkenstocks Arizona is recommended for Sciatica sufferers as well. These are made of rubber and leather, and the flat design provides support to the arch that causes any pain to the nerve.
The footbed takes the grip and is rugged, so it slowly takes the shape of your feet’ anatomy when you walk. This results in less pressure on your actual foot and better support for your back. So Birkenstocks are also good for Sciatica.
Do Podiatrists Recommend Birkenstocks?
Dr. Bobby Pourziaee of Rodeo Drive Podiatry, Birkenstocks are optimum health shoes. Moreover, every design of Birkenstocks has a seal of acceptance by the American Podiatric Medical Association. So, it’s safe to say every corner of the world Birkenstocks are podiatrists approved.
Dr. Timothy of Mid-Atlantic highly recommends Birkenstocks due to their comfort and durability. Especially for airports and long walks, Birkenstocks are great for people between their 20s to 70s suffering from plantar fasciitis.
High fashion brands are now collaborating with Birkenstocks due to its health benefits and making them stylish to wear everywhere. Also Birkenstocks include a wide range of plantar fasciitis sandals and also plantar fasciitis running shoes.
Drawbacks of Wearing Birkenstocks for a Long Time
Birkenstocks provide excellent support to plantar fasciitis sufferers. However, it is not a long-term solution to improve foot health from plantar fasciitis. When you wear these shoes, you’re providing extra sup[port from the shoe and fixedly positioning your feet. It is excellent for the primary stage, but it constantly practices feet to rely on external support.
Plantar fasciitis sufferers should focus on healing their feet and ligament first and partially depend on the shoes. However, regular people with no issues can wear them from time to time. But crossing with multiple Podiatrist opinions, you should incorporate other shoes along with the Birkenstocks from time to time.
Are Birkenstocks Good for Plantar Fasciitis? (Summary)
Are Birkenstocks really good for plantar fasciitis? 100% they are! Birkenstocks’ revolutionary foot anatomy style provides extra support to the sacral ligament and eases your feet from additional stress. Birkenstocks are also good for Achilles Tendonitis, Bunions and Sciatica.
Moreover, these shoes are unisex and come in different types for men & women. However, I don’t recommend buying these shoes from eBay as the chances of being fake are high. The company has developed a stylish series of Birkenstock for the rising demand and provides good arch support. If you don’t like wide bed shoes, you might need to check out other shoes for your plantar fasciitis.