Birkenstocks May Help Your Foot Pain

Through my years of suffering with foot pain I have tried just about everything to relieve my plantar fasciitis. I've used arch supports, done physical therapy and foot stretching exercises and what I've learned from articles from leading podiatrists is quite simple. If you want to prevent reoccurring foot pain wear good shoes.

So I have been gradually changing over my shoe collection. I say gradually because high quality shoes are not inexpensive. Shoes are an investment and with the right brand they will not only last for years but also properly support your feet for years.

Birkenstock shoes are not just for the earth crowd, organic, green,all natural, tree-hugging, "hippie" crowd. Although in the 1970s it seems you weren't a proper hippie unless you wore a pair of "Berks"

There are actually health benefits to wearing what some may call "ugly shoes."

• Contoured Footbed: Constructed of cork and natural latex that forms with your individual foot to continue to support your individual foot shape. The sole is NOT flat, but cupped on the side with a high arch support which evenly distributes your weight.
• Toe bar: Allows toes to grip thereby exercising the foot muscles and encouraging blood flow and circulation.
• Heel cup: Prevents foot slippage by cradling your heel and providing stability.
• Four arch supports: Supports all four arches in the foot, the lateral, metatarsal, medial and transverse arches.

The sales person at the shoe store told me Birkenstocks are the most widely recommended shoe by podiatrists for plantar fasciitis. I slipped a pair on and they did feel amazing, since I have researched the best shoes for plantar fasciitis and own Merrels and Orthoheels She recommended the soft foot bed which has a thicker layer of cork.

My feet have a tendency to pronate (my feet turn in when I walk) and the heel cup in the Birkenstocks help maintain a true and level position. Since I am very used to a high arch support and immediately could feel the balance and relief of pressure points on my feet.

My chiropractor gave me the thumbs up the first time I walked in with the shoes. He told me he has quite a few patients wearing Birkenstocks and they would help to keep my back in position and support the adjustments he makes.

My best friend has has a pair of Birkenstock sandals since the late 1970s, she wears them almost every day in the summer and has had the soles replaced twice over the years. She has sworn by them and told me I would love them more and more every day until I wore nothing else. Don't think that will happen, but I do agree they are wonderful shoes.

Birkenstock first started making shoes in 1774. You heard that right, the Birkenstock shoe brand is older than the United States of America.

Johann Adam Birkenstock first started making shoes in a small German village and his grandson first developed the curved contoured insole. Shoes had always been flat, yet the bottom of the foot is not flat so he developed a shoe which mimicked the bottom of the foot.

Export of Birkenstock shoes began In 1925 yet did not make it to the United States until 1966 when Margot Fraser found them at a spa while on vacation in Germany. Since then the brand has exploded in the United States with endorsements from the footwear industry and even being recognized in the the Footwear News Hall of Fame.

There are now over 300 different varieties of Birkenstock shoes and although they may not be suitable for all situations, for example they don't make high heels, (the worst shoe you can wear) or steel toes safety shoes, there are shoes you can wear during part of your day or in other situations.

Ask Yourself these questions:

1. Do you stand or work on your feet day?
2. Do your feet hurt worse in the morning when you get up?
3. Are the insides of your shoes flat?
4. Does it sometimes feel like you're walking on nails or glass?
5. Do your feet hurt after walking barefoot?
6. After lying down on the couch, or in a lazy boy are your feet tender when starting to walk?
7. Do you run or jog on a regular basis?
8. Do you wear the soles of your shoes more on one side or the other?
9. Do your knees, hips, or ankles hurt? (check with a doctor for other contributing factors)

If you have foot pain check your inside of your shoes. Are they flat? Or do they have dips and valleys. Look at the majority of shoes sold in stores. Feel the inside, most are completely flat. No wonder people have so many foot problems and foot pain.

Birkenstock shoes are available in the traditional sandal, a slip on clog (some wear these as house shoes or slippers) or in a leather or suede loafer.

Learn About the Birkenstock Magic

See for yourself how Birkenstock shoes mold to your foot and provide the support and comfort. There are many reasons why people purchase Birkenstock, some for fashion statement (really), others to be part of the Birkenstock culture, while myself it's strictly a health and comfort factor.

I am beyond wearing shoes just for fashion, my highest priority in a shoe now is comfort and therapeutic health factor.