Category: News

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Using the arch supporting flip flops

Foot supports are a effective intervention used by podiatry practitioners to take care of a variety of foot problems. All of the clinical experiences and scientific evidence is that they are quite useful. Nevertheless, one trouble with them is that they have to be worn in footwear. That is certainly a lifestyle option, but at times the choices and the climate do not really accommodate the use of the proper shoes which foot orthotics could be worn in.

One query that you see asked frequently is that are those flip flops which have an arch support built into them, can they be used rather than foot orthotics. There are a number of brands out there of flip flops which have different amounts of arch support built into them.

Could they be as good as foot orthotics?

Probably not. The support which is included in them is just like what you would get from a mass produced foot orthoses or one of the common over-the-counter type of foot supports. That is fine if you have a typical arch shape. However, that is not good if you don’t. Foot orthotics usually are designed to be unique to your foot type.

Should you use them?

There’s no harm in using these and they absolutely can be used as an adjunct to foot orthotics when you’re not wearing shoes. As if they can be utilized as an alternative, you would need to discuss that with your foot doctor.

I do keep hearing about the Archies online, but I haven’t tried them as they are from Australia. Apparently loads of podiatry clinics in Australia retail them.

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Can a plantar plate injury heal on its own?

This is a question that is often asked and does not have a clear or obvious answer. Everyone is looking for easy and natural ways to treat any condition and a plantar plate injury is no exception. The plantar plate is a strong ligament under the joints in the forefoot that can sometimes get strained due to overuse. Occasionally a small tear develops in that plantar plate ligament.

The typical symptom is pain under the ball of the foot that starts as an ache that gets progressively worse. It is typically much more painful on palpation or poking it. Also the affected toe does tend to be in a more dorsiflexed position.

So, can it heal by itself?

A common treatment (strapping or taping) holds the toe in a plantarflexed position so that it can heal. Is that healing on its own? It could be considered that or is the taping seen as a treatment so that its not healing on its own? Or is this just semantics?

In reality they probably can not heal on there own. They can healing with the strapping and maybe a stiffer soled shoe given time. If those types of treatments do not help, then a surgical repair of the tear in the plantar plate is probably warranted.