Are Crocs good for Plantar Fasciitis? That is a common question that you may be wondering if you have been suffering from plantar fasciitis. And since Crocs are gaining popularity, more and more people are experiencing how comfortable they can be, as well as the vast benefits as far as comfort goes.
If you have been suffering from plantar fasciitis, they may be a good choice for you, once you have been wearing them for a period of time.
Heather Hatfield, in one of her studies ‘Crocs: Healthy Shoes or Just Comfy?’ quotes Bob Baravarian who answers the question ‘are crocs good for plantar fasciitis in the following words: “They are very lightweight and are good for people who have trouble walking.”
Bob Baravarian serves at Santa Monica UCLA Medical Centre as the chief of foot and ankle surgery and praises the wonderful qualities of crocs as one of the best treatments for plantar fasciitis:
“They are very stable, they don’t bend and twist side to side much, and they have a good heel cup and arch contour compared to other shoes.”
So what is this all debate about? If crocs are a great solution for foot injuries, why do people still believe in unreliable myths?
Sit back as we are going to dive deep into these arguments to unwind the hidden truth behind crocs and plantar fasciitis!
Also read: 10 Best Crocs For Plantar Fasciitis
What are crocs?
In case you are wondering, here is the answer: crocs are footwear. But what is exciting about them is that they are very different from the normal shoes that you would wear on a casual day. They are worldwide acknowledged and appreciated for both their peculiar design and quality features.
The footwear was initially launched in 2002 with the aim to beat other boating shoes, which, no doubt, it did marvelously, thanks to its nonslip tread and water-resistant qualities. However, no sooner than their remedial and curative effects made them a shining star in the world of foot injuries.
What is surprising to note here is that even before crocs became famous as healing footwear for plantar fasciitis and other heel discomforts, their main goal was set to benefit the ‘health’ of wearers above everything else!
People all across the globe use crocs. Whether they need something durable and comfy, or compact and safe for their feet, they come back to crocs again and again!
Benefits of crocs
Crocs offer so much more than what is expected. And everything you are looking for in footwear is right here:
Diversity
No one loves the same, boring shoes. And that is why you can find almost every color, style, and design in crocs. Just see their wonderful collections and hold your breath!
The wide variety has different types as well. Some are made to wear casually, while others have a significant purpose to treat plantar fasciitis and other foot discomforts.
Therapeutic effects on feet
There is no question why crocs and plantar fasciitis are great fusion. All you have to do is to find the right pair for yourself and then their dynamic arch support, soft cushioning layers, and higher shock absorbency will do the magic!
They are proven to be helpful and most suitable for all types of foot problems as well: stiff tissues and ligaments, Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), inflammation, chronic pain in the lower back, hips, and ankles – all can be treated by this remarkable footwear.
Compact and comfy
What’s a shoe without comfort? And here comes both the lightweight and restful nature of the footwear. Crocs ‘ mold’ your feet in their soft, relaxed soles as the material they are made of is specifically known for its soft tendency: foamable EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) to make sure you don’t feel exhausted wearing them. Most convenient for those standing on their feet all day, crocs qualify for all of it.
Breathy and water-resistant
A good shoe is one that you can wear no matter what the climate is. And that is what makes crocs a great option to wear in an extremely hot and rainy atmosphere. However, one thing that you should note down is that since crocs have ‘holes’ in their structure, the term water-proofing relatively means ‘water-draining’. And these holes are exactly what makes the shoe breathy.
Easy maintenance
Or should I say, no maintenance at all! They have waterproof material, so you can easily wash them with anything you get your hands on. Cleaning detergents, soaps, and even simple water will do the job. This also adds to the fact that they remain forever new as if you have just bought them yesterday!
Even if you are not wearing them in extreme climatic conditions, they are always easy to maintain when going on normal walks. This creates a great difference between crocs and other shoes that otherwise would take a lot to go back to their fresh state.
Wider shoes
Where are all the sufferers never finding a perfect pair for their wide feet? Now you don’t need to always look for a bigger size because crocs come with a spacious toebox. This makes them perfect for treating plantar fasciitis, hammertoes, edema, bunions, and other toe injuries caused by narrow footwear. Your toes won’t be compressed anymore and will stay healthy.
Durable
Lots of factors combine to make crocs durable. And the top of them is the material used which is water-resistant, thus making sure the footwear won’t be deteriorated by harsh environmental elements. This increases the life of crocs and makes them highly durable for many years and they can be used for both light and heavy work.
Drawbacks of crocs
After reading all the benefits, surely you would have justified the matter regarding ‘are crocs good for plantar fasciitis or not. Well, you should also take into account some of the demerits which come with such footwear.
It is noteworthy that the following points are not necessarily the negative points, but a result of a lack of understanding of the real use of crocs. As Bob Baravarian says in ‘Crocs: Healthy Shoes or Just Comfy?’, “Because the shoe is considered medical, it gets overused by people who need more support than they can get from the shoe,” which explains why some people don’t find crocs as perfect as they expected.
Not running shoes
This is what many people don’t know before buying crocs and consequently, they suffer later. You should use crocs for standing and walking because they were initially designed to be boating footwear. And though with time the structure of the shoe was improved a lot, it is recommended not to look for them if you intend to run for miles wearing them.
Wide
Yes, the same merit turns into a demerit if the wearer has slender feet. Crocs might not be the best option for you if you have slim, narrow feet as this can cause a loose fit which may result in sudden trips and falls. Also, this makes them a complete no for athletic sports as your feet will have unnecessary space in the shoe to move a lot. When it won’t be kept in place, you are more likely to slip.
Insoles cannot be resoled
The material with which crocs are prepared, that is, ‘Croslite’ is a one-time investment. Though the footwear is durable and does last longer than the alternatives, you cannot fix or ‘resole’ it once deteriorates.
Fashion
This plays a major part. You must ask yourself what you prefer more: comfort or style. Because when it comes to crocs, many people find them unpleasant or even ugly. They can be your best friend if you wish your feet good health, but not a decent option if you care about fashion circles.
It should be clear by now why a little part of the audience doesn’t benefit from crocs. In case you are wondering what you should do to avoid such a situation, keep reading.
How can you improve wearing crocs for plantar fasciitis?
Done with the pros and cons of crocs? You might want to know how you can make your crocs effective for plantar fasciitis. If that’s the case, the following are some tips and tricks which you can consider:
Heel Seat Wraps
These can be a great addition to your crocs, but first, let’s see what they are. Heel Seat Wraps, as the name implies, are thin, compact wraps that you wear on your heels. Though they go perfect with any shoe you wear, they take crocs to the next level.
Notably, these wraps are designed with Fascia-Bar technology offering a direct impact on your heels. Foot discomfort, plantar fasciitis, heel pain, heel spurs, and inflammation is relieved with their topical acupressure.
Besides, they are comfortable to wear and are incorporated with Velcro fasteners ensuring it doesn’t get moved out of place. And since you will be wearing them inside the crocs, they have a non-slip bottom to keep you safe from tripping and falling.
Get the right size
Having a fitting croc is the survival guide to plantar fasciitis. You surely wouldn’t want to be those who claim crocs to be defective while the fault is in their unjust footwear size. But since crocs come in wider sizes, it is sometimes tougher to get what fits the best.
There are lots of ways to stretch or shrink the shoe to help them fit in. Just dip them in warm water and pull them from the area that is too small for you. If you need to shrink them, use a dryer and a few wet towels. Five minutes are enough to cut the size of crocs while wet towels maintain the moisture throughout the process.
Get the right structure
Okay, you may consider design, size, and color when buying crocs for casual wear. But plantar fasciitis requires more than that. Which intensifies the need for footwear that is lightweight, breathable, and comfortable to wear. Apart from arch support and cushioning, make sure the crocs you are looking for offer highly shock-absorbent too!
Summary
Crocs are the healing ingredient in the suffering of plantar fasciitis. Still, there is a hell of a lot of doubts regarding ‘are crocs good for plantar fasciitis’ or do they stand for nothing? While the reality is that crocs are a wonderful solution to treat not your foot discomfort but also lots of other pains and diseases.
Crocs are therapeutic footwear – no doubt about that – but there are always certain factors that decide the success of a shoe for your feet. Therefore, instead of getting disturbed by the exaggerated hype against crocs, it is recommended that you do your research and find what works best for you.
