?!?Barefoot Science?!?!


Question: !?!!?Barefoot Science!?!!?
i need arch support for my feet but the doctor ones are very expensive!. Is barefoot science good or not and anything else you can think of add please do!.Www@Answer-Health@Com


Answers:
That said!.!.!.Does anyone have any experience with the "Barefoot Science" shoe inserts that are showing on an infomercial!? Their philosophy behind the models was in line with my thoughts on the deficiencies of orthotics, but I'm not quite sure what separates their product!.

The product uses progressively larger and firmer inserts into the medial arch of the device to improve arch function!. They claim the product helps to strengthen the foot--I can see how it could help to temporarily align the foot and slow ligament deformation, but I fail to see how their product is truly different from other products on the market in regards to strengthening the arch!.

Any thoughts/experiences with this product!?
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Posts: 6 | Registered: Feb 2007

Sebastian Asselbergs
Member


posted February 16, 2007 05:58 AM
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Well, I'll jump in!. Welcome to this site!

A couple of things that come to mind with those patients I have who used the inserts:
- a firm arch is a passive support for the dynamic arch; not allowing normal flexion/tension build-up to toe-off spring!.
- there is simply NO way that an insert will "strengthen" any part of the foot; especially not when it is rigid and thus takes over from the neuromuscular support of an arch!.
- there is NO evidence that a "poor" arch is a result of weak muscles - none!. It seems more likely that genetic determination (of foot mechanics and alignment) and/or footwear and/or habitual use are at the root of the foot/lower limb/low back problems!.
- IMO, ANY orthotic should be custom made (and not expensive at all) with the specific evaluation of each patient (including work/sports requirements) as the only basis for its design!.

Furthermore, in my experience, it is much more valid to correct calcaneal valgus ("pronation") with some simple flexible arch filler and "posting" under the distal first metatarsal (proximal to the head)!. This allows the calcaneus to "steer" the whole tarsal/metatarsal complex into a better alignment!.

Grab the calcaneus of a patient with "pronated" feet, coax the calcanei into a proper perpendicular position, and see how much the rest of the foot re-aligns nicely!. It is IMO crucial to start at the part of the foot that hits the ground first in gait - the rest follows with only some flexible support!.

This approach even seems to really help patients who show signs of early stage hallux valgus (bunions)!. Calcaneal pronation with subsequent longitudinal arch collapse causes a medially directed force vector on toe-off - right at the MTP I joint - when this is corrected, the valgus stress at that joint is diminished!.

One more thing - the transverse arch!. This is a often over- or under-corrected area in OTC devices; again, the individual patient evaluation should guide the design!.

Please note that these are very GENERAL statements - there are always exceptions, and always people who will LOVE even the weirdest solutions!.!.!.!.!.

Long winded - hope it stirs some more posts

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