Tag: footwear

No they don’t.

Its a common myth that corns on the foot have roots that they grow back from. They really don’t. Corns are caused by too much pressure on an area. Corns are easy to remove by simple debridement, but come back again because that pressure that caused them is still there. How do you get rid of corns? Its simple, you need to remove whatever is causing that excessive pressure where the corn is. That could mean a surgical correction of, for example, a hammer toe. It could mean the use of better fitting footwear, It could mean the use of padding to offload the pressure from the area. Unless that pressure that is causing the corn is removed it will keep coming back. It does not keep coming back because it has a root that was not removed.

If you have a problem with corns on your feet, then see a podiatrist to discuss the best options to get rid of that pressure that is causing them.

Foot orthotics are a very effective modality used by podiatrists to treat a wide range of foot problems. All the clinical experiences and research evidence is that they are pretty effective. However, one problem with them is that they need to be worn in shoes. That is obviously a lifestyle choice, but sometimes the choices and the environment do not necessarily accommodate the use of the right footwear which foot orthotics can be worn in.

One question that you see asked often is that are those flip flops that have an arch support built into them, can they be used instead of foot orthotics. There are a number of brands on the market of flip flops that have varying amounts of arch support built into them.

Are they as good as foot orthotics?

Probably not. The support that is built into them is comparable to what you would get from a prefabricated foot orthotics or one of the common over-the-counter type of foot supports. That is fine if you have an average arch shape. However, that is no good if you don’t. Foot orthotics are usually designed to be specific to your foot type.

Should you use them?

There is no harm in using them and they certainly can be used as an adjunct to foot orthotics when you are not wearing shoes. As if they can be used as an alternative, you would need to discuss that with your podiatrist.

I do keep hearing about the Archies online, but I have not seen them as they are from Australia. Apparently a lot of podiatry clinics in Australia sell them.