By Rehan Iqbal
Unless you’ve got a cat on call 24/7 to massage your feet, you’re going to need to reduce the symptoms of plantar fasciitis with a comfortable shoe.
So are Crocs good for plantar fasciitis? Yes, and I explain exactly why below.
There’s a TON of misinformation out there about Crocs and plantar fasciitis, so I decided to do some digging.
Aside from my years of experience wearing (and loving) Crocs, I took a long hard look at the science, medical opinions, and customer reviews around the web.
Let’s answer this question once and for all.
Quick Verdict: Are Crocs Good for Plantar Fasciitis?
Yes, Crocs are good for plantar fasciitis because they are comfortable, supportive, and breathable, plus they have extra room for your toes. They check all of the boxes for supporting plantar fasciitis.
Basically, this shoe is designed to absorb the shock of the ground, support your arches, and take all the stress away from your heel, toes, ankles, and knees.
Essentially, when you walk, your Crocs take all the beating instead of your feet. The result is less pain in your sole, heel, toes, and ankles.
Crocs are even certified ergonomic by United States Ergonomics, proving in clinical tests to reduce muscle fatigue and pains.
Why Are Crocs Good for Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is a demon of a condition where the ligament on the bottom of your foot - the plantar fascia - is constantly irritated. You know that constant stabbing in the bottom of your foot when you get out of bed? Yeah, that’s it.
Constant activity, stress, obesity, and, for me, just getting old all can make what I call “the walking pains” unbearable.
Typical shoes don’t help much either. They’re either too rigid, too tight, or some combination thereof. And most are happy to sacrifice comfort for better durability or aesthetics.
Basically, this means a normal shoe will exacerbate symptoms of plantar fasciitis.
Not Crocs…
3 Reasons Crocs Are Good for Plantar Fasciitis
As long as you only exert “normal”, day-to-day pressure on your feet in Crocs, you should notice a drastic reduction in aches and pains. Especially if you’re on your feet all day at work.
My Bistro clogs were life-changing. I come home from work, kick them off, and feel no pain.
Here’s why:
#1) Extra Arch Support
Crocs were designed for restaurant staff,
nurses, baristas, cruise staff, and other “on your feet all day” workers.
So, basically, the whole idea behind these ugly rubber slippers is to help you walk all day without pain.
This is mostly due to the arch support.
The extra cushioning and ergonomic design distribute the pressure of each step evenly. For example, instead of all the weight falling on your arches or heel, it is more of a “socialized approach” where the heel, toe, arch, and other parts of the foot and ankle all pay their fair share.
The result? Your arches aren’t screaming bloody murder every evening.
#2) Extra Heel Cushioning
The plantar fascia - the whole reason you’re in pain in the first place - connects the heel to the toe. And since the heel bears the brunt of impact, it’s often where you feel the worst pains.
The deep, heavily cushioned heel of most Crocs will absorb nearly all of that impact, meaning your inflamed fascia will hardly get touched. Each time you step, instead of the fascia getting pushed on by the sole of your shoe and stinging, you’ll hardly feel a thing because the cushion will absorb all of that impact.
#3) Extra Toe Room
Lastly, most shoes are too pointed at the top, which exacerbates plantar fasciitis. Remember, the plantar fascia connects the toes with the heel.
Normally, the toes don’t receive much of the impact, so they hurt less than arches or heels, but with plantar fasciitis, everything hurts 10 times more than it should.
That extra, breathable toe room prevents your little foot fingers from bunching up and screaming “HELP!!!” while you’re on your feet all day.
Final Verdict: Are Crocs Good for Plantar Fasciitis?
Yes, Crocs are a certified ergonomic style of footwear with everything you need to reduce aches and pains caused by plantar fasciitis.
Including:
These shoes were designed to help people stand on their feet all day in fast paced environments, and go home without aches and pains. If you’ve got plantar fasciitis, they’ll do the same for you.
However, they are not a “cure” for this condition. And just wearing Crocs doesn’t give you license to start jumping up and down all day or running marathons. You still need to speak to a podiatrist, do regular foot stretchings if instructed to, and exercise caution.
But if you just want the pains in your feet to stop, Crocs are one of the best shoes for Plantar Fasciitis.
F.A.Q
Q: Do Crocs make plantar fasciitis worse?
A: No, Crocs do not make plantar fasciitis worse. Actually, it’s the opposite. If you have mild plantar fasciitis due to age, activity, or obesity, Crocs should reduce aches and pains with extra cushioning, arch support, and toe room. Crocs are certified ergonomic and are even recommended by some medical professionals for foot pain.
Q: Which Crocs are best for plantar fasciitis?
A: The best Crocs for plantar fasciitis depends on how severe your condition is and your type of foot, so it’s hard to say. But in general, any Crocs made for the workplace should help reduce pains. This includes Crocs on the Clock and Bistro Clogs.
Q: Do foot doctors recommend Crocs?
A: Yes, some foot doctors recommend Crocs, but others are still skeptical. In general, medical professionals tend to shy away from making strong recommendations for commercial products, but there are many who personally wear them and recommend them to their patients. You will have to speak to your podiatrist for more information.
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