Are any of those funny looking shoes good for heel pain?

 

A: There are a number of shoes that look....different...and boast being able to resolve pain in the lower extremity, including heel pain. One such shoe is MBT, Masei Barefoot Technology, which has been available for years. These shoes feature a soft heel and rocker sole, forcing the foot to function more on the mid foot. Some patients have indeed found relief with these shoes and I recommend them on occasion, but many also find that the drastic change in gait causes new issues to arise. These should not be confused with the "toning shoes" such as Sketchers Shape-Ups which offer no therapeutic value.

Another shoe is the Z-coil shoe. This shoe has an elevated heel with a visible heavy gauge coil attaching it. It looks like you're walking on a pogo stick! While some report relief of pain, it is usually due to the elevation of the heel, which takes pressure off of the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon, and not the unique construct.

The best results from these shoes come with commitment. Because they cause a significant change in gait, switching between these shoes and conventional shoes will cause continual muscle confusion that will limit the efficacy of any of them.


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