PF v VFF

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old mum Oct 2012 8:41pm, 17 Oct 2012 255 posts	0 old mum I'm currently struggling a bit with PF, not helped by being on my feet all day in the kitchen followed and puppy walking. The exercises advised by a podiatrist friend of mine have helped but I've noticed that when I'm walking around the house barefoot, I feel the pf more in terms of the stretch and manipulation that I would expect from pf exercises. Is there any evidence to say that barefoot style shoes, such as vibrams, are beneficial to pf rehab or am I way off the mark?
Boab Oct 2012 8:46pm, 17 Oct 2012 7,042 posts	0 Boab Unfortunately there is no evidence other than anecdotal. As far as I understand, there are multiple reasons for PF and in general, like achilles tendonosis, the medical world don't really know what causes it. Hence the plethora of different and conflicting advice and 'treatments'. That's not very helpful is it? Sorry. PF seems to be a bugger to shift, that is certain, but it can be beaten. I am sure there is a thread on Fetch somewhere that will have all the treatments I refer to above, one of them is likely to work for you . Unfortunately you are likely to try almost all of them before finding the one that works!!! Frustrating injury, hope you get some relief from it soon.
JohnnyO Oct 2012 8:48pm, 17 Oct 2012 13,945 posts	0 JohnnyO Its hard to find good quality evidence for any one thing in PF, and many people have conflicting experiences. Personally I have found that more minimal shoes have helped, but only in that they push me further forward onto my midfoot. I doubt they would help if my techniue hadn't imroved. VFFs are quite extreme, and although I have never tried them, I would have thought they mght take quite a while to get used to whereas you may get benefit from less barefoot shoes and still be able to run. Of course, you could be one of those who doesn't get benefit from lesser shoes. ps. I was told never to walk around the house barefoot, which did seem to help. Nothing to do with barefoot running I hasten to add, its about padding your heel when walking, nobody walks with a forefoot strike!
LouLou Oct 2012 8:48pm, 17 Oct 2012 5,119 posts	0 LouLou What shoes do you wear during the day? I reckon flip flops and then flat ballet pumps on hard floors caused my (mild!) PF.
old mum Oct 2012 8:52pm, 17 Oct 2012 256 posts	0 old mum Cheers Boab. I should have also added that I'm walking much more as I'm training for a walk of Hadrian's Wall next summer so time off feet is fairly limited these days! To be fair, the exercises that my friend S has prescribed (she's a specialist podiatrist so really knows her stuff) have helped but because of the time I'm spending on my feet - probably around 14 -16hours a day - there's only so much we can do. I'm happy to try whatever is required but am curious to know if anyone else has tried, and found benefit/detriment in wearing barefoot style shoes.
Boab Oct 2012 8:57pm, 17 Oct 2012 7,043 posts	0 Boab The exercises are working, can you up the numbers or resistance on them? Incidentally, both my Inov8 shoes (x-talons and f-lites), sort of known to be minimal shoes, aggrivate my PF on the left. I'm usually in pain for a couple of days afterwards.
old mum Oct 2012 8:57pm, 17 Oct 2012 257 posts	0 old mum Johnny, Lou - I wear neutral Adizero Bostons all day. I wear them because they have proven to be the only shoes that don't inflame the scar tissue I developed after a misdiagnosed hip/groin injury. The shoes definitely aren;t the issue though, its the time on feet and the fact that I upped my training miles too quickly in an attempt to get to 10k race standard within 2-3 months. Too much, too soon and quelle surprise.....! I already have a pair of VFFs so have the experience of not only fighting my way on to them, but walking in them. Haven't found that I 'pad' in them but can see how that could hapen.
old mum Oct 2012 9:00pm, 17 Oct 2012 258 posts	0 old mum Funny Boab, my neutrals are the only ones I can wear without my hip buckling under me after a couple of days! Just shows how differently everyone responds to PF I suppose.