Educational Articles

A lot of folks write in with questions about foot and toe surgery and what alternatives might be available for those who wish to avoid these procedures. We also get a lot of questions from people who've already had foot or toe surgery (or who are scheduled for a procedure), wondering if natural foot care methods might... Read more

Strutz foot pads are simple and unobtrusive, possess a sleek, low-profile design, and serve as a sort of “mobile” metatarsal pad. This important foot health tool helps you prevent or address ball of foot pain and helps improve foot structure and function. Strutz foot pads come equipped with a wide elastic band that wraps around your foot and a built-in... Read more

Toe box taper—the narrowing of a shoe from the ball of your foot to the ends of your toes—is one of the most harmful features of conventional footwear. It's difficult to find a pair of shoes or boots (or even sandals) that are wider at the ends of your toes than the ball of your foot. Most shoes and boots, including athletic models, force your toes into... Read more

Tarsal bones are the short bones located in the midfoot and rearfoot that form a bridge between the ankle and the metatarsal bones. The tarsal tunnel is a space located just below the bony prominence on the inside of the ankle, or medial malleolus, and is made up of bone on the inside and the flexor retinaculum—a band of connective tissue—on the outside. Several important structures pass... Read more

Tendinitis occurs when tendons—the fibrous connective tissue structures that connect muscles to bones—become irritated and inflamed. Inflammation is the localized response by the body to injury or damage caused by chemical, physical, or biological agents. Most tendinitis treated by foot care professionals is caused by overuse, usually from repetitive work tasks or recreational sports. Foot and lower extremity tendinitis can significantly affect a person’s ability to perform... Read more

The very best foot pads are the ones that nature gave us (i.e., the ones already built into our feet), such as the forefoot fat pad and the calcaneal fat pad. But for most of us who have spent a lifetime shod, our foot pads are not properly positioned (or conditioned) to play the role they were intended to play. In... Read more

When we set out on this journey so many years ago, we scarcely imagined—though we certainly hoped, at least in the backs of our minds—that we’d be coming to you today with news of Natural Footgear’s 10th anniversary. But here we are, in late March 2022, 10 wonderful years into our mission, and we thought it might be fun... Read more

Be Real Shoes have it all: A flat sole from heel to toe, a flexible sole with great traction, and one of the widest toe boxes in the business (not to mention the fact that these foot-healthy shoes are made in the USA using recycled, non-toxic materials!). In this video, Be Real Shoes founder Jason Applegate discusses and demonstrates his amazing creation. Be Real Shoes work great... Read more

The natural foot health revolution is here. Increasing numbers of people are liberating their feet from the shackles of conventional footwear and realizing the benefits of more minimalist footwear. For the first time ever, footgear is now available to consumers that supports and respects the brilliant design of the human foot and helps correct toe deformities caused by years of inappropriate footwear use. We are rediscovering our... Read more

For decades, we, as footwear consumers and users, have been told that we need plenty of padding in our shoes and under our feet to help boost comfort and buffer the forces on our bodies that occur during standing, walking, running, and jumping. Like many things in the health arena, this information has become common knowledge and accepted as fact. Shoe industry bigwigs along with countless healthcare... Read more