The Healing Sole was first imagined when Dr. Meredith Warner, a practicing Orthopedic Surgeon, noticed that most of her patients with heel pain were tired of being told by other physicians that they could no longer enjoy wearing flip flops because they suffered from plantar fasciitis.
THE PATENTED FOOTBED DESIGN
Dr. Warner integrated several design features into The Healing Sole’s footbed. Together these features work to allow the foot to rest and heal naturally.
Each feature is a valid treatment option alone, but together they provide an ‘entourage effect’. That is, the features work in a synergistic manner and the design augments the power of the individual features.
Raised Arch Support And Metatarsal Bar Combo
Arch support is rarely found in flip flops, but it is crucial for supporting the foot and reducing stress on the knees, ankles, and back. However, an aggressive or very high arch support is not necessary when it is combined with the other features of this shoe.
This allows The Healing Sole’s arch support to be more low-profile and to function in another fashion as a metatarsal bar that offloads pressure from the forefoot.
Rocker Bottom Sole
This unique sole design helps reduce tension on the plantar fascia with its slight curvature similar to a recovery boot! Rocker Bottoms have been used in orthopedic and podiatric surgery for hundreds of years, but it is fairly unique to a flip-flop.
The rocker bottom functions well alone, but allows the other features such as the engagement of the windlass mechanism to stretch the fascia to work better. In addition, it is additive to the metatarsal bar and allows easier push-off during gait which limits stress and strain on the foot.
Raised Big Toe Lift (Cluffy Wedge®)
By raising the big toe in conjunction with the rocker bottom sole a gentle stretch is applied to the plantar fascia as you walk. This element engages the famous ‘windlass’ mechanism of the foot. The plantar fascia runs from the heel to the toes with the main attachment point on the big toe.
When the big toe lifts, it pulls the attachment point of the plantar fascia and effectively stretches it; however, this also raises the arch a bit at the same time through integrated actions in the foot. One should not engage this windlass mechanism without the simultaneous use of the rocker bottom and a structured footbed.
Combination Compressible And Non-Compressible Heel
The unique dual-compression design of our footwear offers pressure reduction in the area where the plantar fascia meets the heel bone while still providing structural support to the outer heel. This allows a more normal gait and heel strike.
There is no need to walk on the outside of the foot to guard against pressure at the heel spur position.
STRUCTURED MATERIAL
The proprietary materials chosen for the footbed, sole and straps promote the use of your foot muscles and allows for improvement of ‘foot core strength’. Most of us have weak feet.
By allowing the foot muscles to work, The Healing Sole promotes the strength of the small but strong stabilizing muscles of the arch and the foot. This is not possible without a material that is structured. By design, this shoe is stiffer than most flip flops. You will notice this right away. This design allows your foot to become stronger and that will defend you against future problems.
ARE THEY RIGHT FOR YOU?
In a clinical trial looking at patients with chronic plantar fasciitis, Dr. Warner observed 80% of the participants having an improvement in pain and/or function. Furthermore, over 90% of users would recommend the shoe to friends and family. These results continue to be seen with The Healing Sole’s customers today!
While there has not been a clinical trial completed looking into the effectiveness of The Healing Sole on other types of foot pain at this time, we have had many customers report that they have felt relief from their heel spurs, Morton’s neuroma, tendonitis, and more.
If you have a question about a specific condition, our team is here to help you figure out if The Healing Sole might be beneficial to you. Remember that this flip flop is designed to strengthen the foot, offload pressure (pain) points, stretch the fascia and heel cord and reduce stress across the foot as you stand and walk.
If those beneficial goals could help with your condition, give this a try.
GIVE THEM A TRY!
If you are ready to jump in and give our footwear a try, we offer a 30-day no-risk trial period so that you have the time to break them in slowly and see if they are a right fit for your foot pain!
Dr. Meredith Warner recommends breaking them in slowly for at least 14 days! This is important as the material is designed for strength, durability and to allow the rocker bottom to function properly. This flip flop does not feel like any other. Check out our break-in guide here on our website.
Order your first pair today!