I have to tell you since starting this blog I was appalled to see how many non-evidenced based posts ( no scientific studies backing their claims) and outfits are out there. A big tip-off is if there is something that you have to buy to get the results.

Another thing that disturbs me about those behind this misleading healthcare advice online is that they seem to prey on desperate people who are looking for answers.

Be skeptical of claims opposite of traditional care:

One particular trend that has been very prevalent is treatment for plantar fasciitis that is THE OPPOSITE to normal evidence based treatment by podiatrists and orthopedists. This trend involves a barefoot movement and normally there are links in their posts to buy the various barefoot shoes out there and treatment devices.

If one remembers the vibram 4 finger shoes

and the push to barefoot running around 2009, there were claims of injury and stress fracture . There also was a class action” lawsuit against Vibram USA alleging the company made false and unsubstantiated claims about health benefits of its glove-like footwear.” (McCue, Matt, ‘Runner’s World: Vibram Agrees to Settle Class Action Lawsuit’ May 6, 2014). Well , there has been a resurgence of the barefoot shoe movement mainly championed by chiropractors. Don’t get me wrong I think the body works best in it’s natural state.    But, the body adapts to it’s environment and if one has been wearing supportive shoes for decades and then decides to switch to barefoot shoes there will likely be painful consequences.

If a person has spent their life in the environment or culture where shoes were not required , then they are well adapted to barefoot use. So most of our feet are adapted to supportive shoes. It is well documented that plantar fasciitis is due to overuse and undersupport as well as high BMI ( body mass index) so switching to barefoot shoes when one is dealing with plantar fasciitis is ill-advised and detrimental. I do recommend strengthening of the foot muscles through exercise to support the plantar fascia . But treating a strained ligament by taking support away will make things worse.

Verify that the touted treatment is evidence based :

The healthcare claim should mention supporting scientific data/ studies.

My blog posts on plantar fasciitis contain evidence based information and supported by the systematic review of systemic reviews of plantar fascia treatment below as well as guidelines from the American Academy of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

A Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews on the Epidemiology, Evaluation, and Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis by Hye Chang Rhim Jangwon Kwon Jewel Park Joanne Borg-Stein ^4,5 and Adam S. Tenforde Life 2021, 11(12), 1287; https://doi.org/10.3390/life11121287Submission received: 21 October 2021 / Revised: 17 November 2021 / Accepted: 19 November 2021 / Published: 24 November 2021(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation)

The following excerpt from the systemic review above about the lack of evidence of the barefoot/ minimalist intrinsic muscle strengthening treatment of plantar fasciitis:

“Strengthening exercise: Only one study examined the effects of strengthening interventions on plantar fasciitis [87]. Huffer et al., who conducted a systematic review of seven studies, classified strengthening interventions into three distinct categories—minimalist running shoe intrinsic foot muscle (IFM) strengthening, IFM foot exercises, and plantar aponeurosis loading. While the authors found that these minimalist running shoes and toe flexion against resistance may improve intrinsic foot musculature in asymptomatic populations, high-load plantar fascia resistance training has not been shown to change plantar fascia thickness. Therefore, reviews determined no definitive conclusions regarding the benefits of strengthening interventions in patients with plantar fasciitis could be made.”

I do however include foot muscle strengthening exercises as part of the overall treatment/ rehabilitation plan for plantar fasciitis. But not at the expense of discarding all the other well-accepted treatments or plantar fasciitis as what some online practitioners are trying to sell.

Verify Healthcare Claims by checking Google Scholar

Just type “google scholar” into the google search engine and search for studies of the claim. Quality of scientific evidence depends on a number of factors including: the type of study, methods, confounders and the number of people enrolled in the study.

In general, double blinded, randomized placebo controlled prospective studies are considered the highest quality evidence and expert opinion the lowest. Researchers use the acronym RCT’s for randomized controlled studies as the most valuable .

Here’s a google scholar search on minimalist shoes:

Also another way to determine if the study is reputable is the number of other articles that cite that article as seen in purple by the star in the above screen shot. But, older studies will have more citations because they have been around longer. So, pay attention to the year it was published for the most up to date information.

Check claims sources and authors credentials

Here is a instagram ad touting amazing results from a a topical treatment. If you read my blog post: How do I get rid of my ugly toenails? – drgaffneybestfoot you’ll know that there are very few effective evidenced based treatments for fungal toenails. The author of this ad calls herself a foot care expert with no credentials.

They even use a study from Havard for proof.

It has to be legit right? There is a study from Harvard confirming it’s effectiveness. Enter Google Scholar:

They only studied 20 patients . They call this a very small sample size. Also, the fungus treated was at the end of the toenail as indicated by the word “distal”. However, with this product they give you a 90 day money back guarantee. I wonder how long that will last.

As a concession, I have recommended essential oils such as tree tea oil to my patients for topical treatment after the oral treatment to help the nail grow out and prevent recurrence. I do agree that it may work for distal/ near the end of the nail fungus in the nail. 

In conclusion, be skeptical of all claims touted online. Check the sources, check the citations, check google scholar or for foot health go to drgaffneybestfoot blog site.

Thanks for reading and please check out my YouTube channel. Please like and subscribe: https://youtube.com/@drgaffneybestfoot/?sub_confirmation=1

Disclaimer: This blog is not Intended to diagnose treat or prevent any disease disorder or condition. It is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice nor is it intended to replace medical advice.  This  blog  does not constitute a doctor patient relationship. We disclaim liability for incidental or consequential damages and assume no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage suffered by any person as a result of the information provided.  The information is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied. One should always consult their doctor before starting any treatment or concerning any condition.

It is NOT  the intention of drgaffneybestfoot.com/ youtubechannel  to provide specific medical advice (e.g.: diagnosis and treatment related to individual and/or specific medical cases, second opinion for medical diagnosis and/or treatment or recommendations regarding therapy), but rather the material contained on this site is for informational purposes only . Specific medical advice will not be provided, and drgaffneybestfoot.com/ Dr. Melissa Gaffney  urges you to consult with a qualified podiatrist or physician for diagnosis and for answers to your personal foot related questions.

The information and contents of this site is provided “as is,” and drgaffneybestfoot.com, Dr. Melissa Gaffney,  it’s affiliates, contractors, and editorial review board members make no representations, express or implied warranties as to the accuracy or completeness of such information. Nothing contained in the site is intended to be instructional for medical diagnosis or treatment. The information should not be considered complete or up to date, nor should it be relied on to suggest a course of treatment for a particular individual. It should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation or the advice of your podiatrist, physican or other qualified health care provider.

drgaffneybestfoot.com/ Dr. Melissa Gaffney ,  affiliates, contractors, editorial review board members and sponsors are neither responsible nor liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary, punitive, or other damages arising out of or relating in any way to this site, site-related services, content or information contained herein, or any hyperlinked web site.