What You Need To Know About The Raised Toe

We get many questions from customers, but the one we get the most is “Why the raised toe?” Well, it’s more than just a unique design. The raised Cluffy Wedge big toe lift engages the windlass mechanism. You’re probably thinking: what's the windlass mechanism? It’s how your plantar fascia supports your foot during weight-bearing activities like walking.

Why is it important?

When your big toe is slightly elevated, your plantar fascia gets tightened. By passively stretching your plantar fascia, engaging the windlass mechanism, and in combination with the rocker bottom sole, you will experience a gentle stretch that is necessary for alleviating the pain associated with plantar fasciitis. This raised toe ramp also helps to prevent the toes from cramping while also offering a deeper stretch to the muscles and ligaments of the feet.

A raised area under the great toe is only beneficial when combined with a rocker bottom. The addition of the metatarsal bar adds to the power of the shoe to reduce pain.

The Healing Sole provides this essential combination of the raised toe ramp and rocker bottom in the majority of the shoes we make.

4 Common Causes of Plantar Fasciitis

IMPROPER FOOTWEAR

Shoes that lack proper support, or don't fit correctly can put excess pressure on ligaments of the foot, including your plantar fascia.

ATYPICAL FOOT ANATOMY

Having high arches, flat feet, or a tight achilles tendon can make you more susceptible to plantar fasciitis.

EXCESS WEIGHT

Strain from excess weight can lead to plantar fasciitis. In addition, adipose fat causes chronic inflammation that damages the plantar fascia.

6 MAIN FEATURES OF RAISED TOE STYLES

1. A ROCKER BOTTOM SOLE

Rather than being a flat flip flop, the sole of our footwear is gently curved. This works with your natural heel-to-toe gait pattern, stretching the muscles of the feet and lower legs while also alleviating tension. The curve also puts body weight into a better position on the foot and allows for natural offloading of painful areas. Rocker bottoms are well-known to reduce the stress and strain of standing and walking.

2.RAISED ARCH SUPPORT

Added arch support does just what the title suggests. It offers essential support to the arch of the foot, the major structure that carries the weight of the body. Added support helps to offload stress, reduce pain, and improve balance and posture. The goal of this arch support is to support the tendons responsible for push-off and arch maintenance. Please note that this arch support is not designed to change anyone’s natural alignment.

3. COMPRESSIBLE INNER HEEL

The proprietary cutout pattern in the inside portion of the heel allows for optimized cushioning of the sole at that zone only. This flexibility reduces pressure on the heel where many experience the highest degree of pain. However, a normal heel-strike is possible because the rest of the foot bed has a normal, but giving, structure. This feature is designed to cushion the pain but eliminate ‘guarding’ when standing or walking.

4. METATARSAL BAR

In our footwear, the metatarsal bar is located just behind and underneath your metatarsal heads near the base of the toes. The metatarsal bar works with the rocker bottom to lessen stress and strain at the toe joints located within the ‘ball of the foot.’ This helps to offload pressure and relieve pain in the forefoot.

5. RAISED AREA UNDER THE GREAT TOE

(sometimes called the Cluffy® Wedge) This raised toe ramp helps to prevent the toes from cramping while also offering a deeper stretch to the muscles and ligaments of the feet. A raised area under the great toe is only beneficial when combined with a rocker bottom. The addition of the metatarsal bar adds to the power of the flip flop to reduce pain.

UPDATE YOUR SUPPLEMENT ROUTINE

IT'S EASY TO GET STUCK IN OLD WAYS OF TREATING PAIN.
IT'S TIME TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE NEW WAYS OF HEALING.

Original 2.0 Flip Flops

Patented & Invented by Orthopedic Foot Surgeon, Dr. Meredith Warner, so you can self-treat & get back to living your best life. The Healing Sole makes walking work to your advantage by absorbing stress, offloading tension placed on the joints and gently stretching the muscles of your lower body.

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Everett Sandals

The Healing Sole makes walking work to your advantage by absorbing stress, offloading tension placed on the joints and gently stretching the muscles of your lower body. With its easy slip-on design, The Everett uses the same Healing Sole Technology from our Classic model but now gives you a sporty, stylish look that you can wear around town as you recover from foot pain.

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