Vibram Five Fingers Help with Plantar Fasciitis

By Britt on Dec 8, 2010 | In User Stories | 14 comments »

John running in a local Turkey Trot and trail running in the Coronado Mtns, AZ.

John sent us the following story about how Vibram Five Fingers have helped him solve his plantar fasciitis problems:

Listen up kiddos. I have major feet problems, plantar fasciitis and the Army gave me inserts, which gave me stress fractures. Told me I was limited to 1/2 mile runs. You never know how much you miss running till you can't do it any longer.

A good friend and workout buddy had some Sprints on, and yeah I made fun of him. He told me to check them out, so I went on the web and hit up this site along with reading the pros and cons of barefoot running techniques. Started with the Classics, broke my feet in slowly, worked my way up to a pair of Treks, did some trail running in them out in AZ up in the mountains (Coronado), and felt like a kid again. Had to not really teach myself how to run, but to remind my body and feet to do forefoot strikes. Came back home and went crazy and bought the Bikilas and Sports.

I was having to do a walking PT test, and it sucked. Now that I am running again, I freakin' crushed the other guys in my unit out of no where on our last test. I do 8 miles about once a week and then do regular short runs of 3 miles about 3 days a week, and try to do a 5K every weekend. Get this, I've actually been placing in the top 3 sometimes and always the top 10 in my age group (40). This time last year I wasn't going more then 1 mile without pain. These shoes have made such a difference in my physical condition it's crazy.

John's hints for newbies:

  • read reviews
  • get one pair to work into and get your feet use to them slowly
  • get your second pair and rotate them out daily, I never wear regular shoes any longer except my work boots
  • get some foot powder/spray and powder your feet daily and spray the shoes
  • throw them in the washer every so often otherwise they will get funky, but don't machine dry them, hang them out
  • be prepared for questions from people you don't even know. If we all work together, this might just change the world!


I'm doing 5K races like crazy, starting to do 10Ks this month, and I feel like a teenager running from 5-10k in the Vibrams.

Much Love and Happiness
John

Thanks for the testimonial John! Sounds like you've had great results eliminating your plantar fasciitis pain and are running some really fast times.

About the Author — Hailing from College Station, Texas (Home to Texas A&M!), I grew up running cross country. Believe it or not, I gave Justin the name for this site back in early 2009 but I didn't jump on the toe shoes bandwagon until a year later.
Britt has written 162 articles and 67 comments.
Tags: bikila, classic, kso trek, running, sprint

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Comment from: gwen [Visitor]
gwenThanks so much for your testimony!! I want to get a pair of the bakilas. May have to wait until after Christmas though. Am excited and anxious! Speaking of being stopped all the time, I'm use to that because I ride a streetstrider. Check it out! An elliptical on wheels. So, the shoes will go perfect with my strider. streetstrider.com Thanks again!!
12/08/10 @ 14:29
Comment from: Josue Diaz [Visitor] Email
Josue DiazGreat story! Plantar Fasciitis can be a lingering discomfort and it's nice to hear how VFFs helped in this area. I find it fascinating that the concept of minimalist footwear and/or the idea of going back to a time prior to the current state of shoe technology can offer such immense benefit. It may flip conventional wisdom on its head, but John is proof that positive results can occur by incorporating VFFs into ones training.

Good luck to you, John! I think your tips are excellent as well. I'm in between a newbie and intermediate with my VFF experience. Currently use the Classics as my primary.
12/08/10 @ 23:47
Comment from: Tyler Hurst [Visitor]
Tyler Hurstyeahhhhh! I've had similar results, and while I didn't quite have the issues you did before I made the switch, I too had prescription inserts that seemed to do more harm than good.

Running my 3rd Half marathon in Vibrams this January!
12/10/10 @ 11:42
Comment from: Gavin [Visitor]
GavinHey, I ran with you during that turkey trot. Thanks for the advice for beginners!
12/10/10 @ 18:43
Comment from: Seth [Visitor]
SethI don't know which is more funny, the kid trying to catch you or the turkey!
12/11/10 @ 20:51
Comment from: andrew low [Visitor]
andrew lowhi

i switched back to racer-shoes as VFF caused my plantar fasciitis to worsen (if i run more than 8km)

any advise? do i need more time to adjust?
12/14/10 @ 08:57
Comment from: Alan [Visitor] Email
AlanThanks John,
I am in the acute stage of PF and it is crazy how much this lingers. Bought the KSO VFF and need to walk in them a bit. and bought the Nike FREE to wear also. Will check out the otherones that you mention too. Any other advice or tips for the PF besides the shoes would be awesome! Thanks! Alan
12/14/10 @ 22:39
Comment from: Dave [Visitor]
DaveI've never been a runner. Always getting a sore back, sore ankles, knees. And incredibly sore heels. Somehow read a copy of 'Born To Run' then went and bought a pair of KSOs off the net. Since then started trail walking and running around my town in the Pilbara, Western Australia. It is really rough country and my feet are loving it. I'm stronger and fitter than I've been in years. And the PF is just about gone! Love Vibrams.
12/16/10 @ 07:58
Comment from: John Gunter [Visitor]
John GunterBig tip I read and totally agree with is to slowly work into them. I started with small runs of 1/4-1/2 mile runs. At first my feet hurt, from the front attachemnt of the Plantars Tendon where it attaches at the balls, and top of arch, The heel pain I was getting stopped within 1 week probably because I wasn't doing the heel strikes any longer. almost every chance I got I went a little further, measured by houses or streets in my neighborhood. Never went out and tried to do any distance. I would run 2 miles and if I was feeling good, I went another street, so on, so on, so on.

Trail running in AZ. taught me about looking at the ground before I put my feet down, and even when I do the road 5Ks I still do it.

About the PF, mine is like 99% gone. I don't think anyone's feet wouldn't be sore some after running 5-10Ks and the marathons some of ya'll do. Probably heard of taking a 1 liter of water, freezing it, and then rolling you feet on it. This will work, but biggest advice is to strengthen your feet.

Bought a pair of Nike Free, and ,aybe some people like them, but they hurt my feet within 1 mile of wearing them. We have a Half Moon Outfitters here in savannah, and I saw a pair of New Balance 100s for trail running, tried them on and they felt decent and low to the ground, but my toes were bunched up.

Unless I'm ordered to by the Army, I don't think I'll ever get another pair of regular running shoes.

I can run 8-10 miles with the VFFs or about 1 mile with running shoes.
12/24/10 @ 11:05
Comment from: Brandon Nolte [Visitor] Email
Brandon NolteI LOVE my Bikila's. I have been wearing them since April and I have not had any problems with my feet, knees, shins ect. I will not be going back to other running shoes.

Also, I must say, I found a lot of excellent information on your website that led to the purchase of those Bikilas. Thanks for all the work you guys do. It IS appreciated.
01/07/11 @ 15:02
Comment from: Linda F [Visitor]
Linda FHi John,
I worried a bit about the plantar fasciitis acting up when I switched to the Vibrams. I haven't had a problem with it for a few years, but boy that's no fun. I've had nothing else on my feet since I bought my KSO's a few days ago and I agree, no pain at all. I can't run, Zumba or much of anything due to my knee right now but the Vibrams are helping immensely and I think the knee will heal better with them. I thought I'd need to break into them slowly, but my knee pain is so much less with them on, it's hard to break down and take them off! Right now I'm sticking to light walking around the house and work, but I almost feel I could run in them, and will soon!
02/08/11 @ 20:54
Comment from: Nathanael [Visitor] Email
NathanaelHey John,
my Dad and I used to run triathlons together until about two years ago when he got PF. And its gotten progressively worse to where now hes in pain every second of the day. We tried "better" shoes the orthotics, he went to a podiatrist who told him it was uncureable and that he'd just have to run through the pain. So in short theres no chance of him running right now. I have been researching the whole forefoot/barefoot running for two years now and I am just to the point where I have succsesfully switched over. I really want that for my Dad too but he is stuck in a rut. It sounds like you had the same intensity of PF as he does so I was wondering if you could tell me what you did first to begin to recover from PF, so that you could start running correctly again thatd be extremely appreciated, I want my running partner back haha.

thanks! Nathanael
05/13/11 @ 12:36
Comment from: Cathy Davis [Visitor]
Cathy DavisNathanael! I want to tell you what I did to recover from PF! I would walk and run and my feet just felt on fire..some relief, really none! I bought Vibrams, I started out wearing them every other day 1 hour, then I progressed upward, to 4 hours a day. Just around the house ect. Then to 3 mile walks, then 3 mile runs! I am a Marathoner. My PF is gone! I won't ever be wearing regular running shoes again!
11/29/11 @ 23:43
Comment from: Yolanda S [Visitor]
Yolanda SI too suffered from plantar fasciitis and found that walking/running in my VFFs cured my foot problem. When it's real cold outside I miss wearing them as wearing the socks with the shoes somethings don't help. I know VFF is coming out with VFFs for the cold and I will be getting those this Fall. Wearing these shoes every chance I get is the best thing for my feet. I love them so much I am up to 11 pairs. I so ready for the new line, I feel like it's Christmas.
03/07/12 @ 09:44